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Sciences 
Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  H:80 

(716)  872-4503 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


1 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm^  (e  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'ii  lui  a  6x6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Las  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
una  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methode  normale  de  filmage 
sont  indiquis  ci-dessous. 


□    Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couieur 

□    Covers  damaged/ 
Couverture  endommag^e 

□    Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pellicuiie 


□   Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couieur 

□    Pages  damtged/ 
Pages  endommagies 

□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pelllculdes 


□    Cover  title  missing/ 
Le  tjtrs  de  couverture  manque 

□    Coloured  maps/ 
Cartes  g^ographiques  en  coulaur 


r~7T'^ Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
L)lJ    Pages  ddcolories,  tachet^es  ou  piqudes 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ditach^es 


□    Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


D 


Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couieur 


r~~K  Showthrough/ 
b^J    Transparence 

FTf    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I--J    Qualiti  inigale  de  {'impression 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
RellA  avec  d'autres  documents 


r~y/  Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 

I      I    along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrie  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 


D 


Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutAes 
lors  d'unu  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte. 
mala,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  it6  filmAes. 


|~n    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


D 


Comprend  du  materiel  supplamentaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc..  ont  iti  filmees  6  nouveau  de  facon  it 
obtenir  la  meill>>Mre  image  possible. 


D 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires; 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqui  ci-dessous. 

10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


7 1  I   I  I   I   I  I   I   I 


12X 


16X 


20X 


24X 


28X 


32X 


The  copy  filmad  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Metropolitan  Toronto  Library 
Canadian  History  Department 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 

Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printer  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  f.ame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  tho  symbol  — ^  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,    "larts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  loft  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  filmd  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6ro8it6  de: 

Metropolitan  Toronto  Library 
Canadian-!  History  Department 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet6  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimde  sont  film6s  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmis  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illufrtration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaTtra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  ^♦-signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifle  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  fttre 
film6s  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff6rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  6tre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichi,  il  est  film*  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  nn  prenant  !e  nombre 
d'images  n^cessairs.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  m6thode. 


1 

2 

3 

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HISTORY 


OF    THK 


War  o^  1812, 


FROM 


THE  COMMENCEMENT, 


UNTII, 


THE  tiNAL  TERMINATION  THBRBOI', 


ON  THE 


MEMORABLE  EIGHTH  OF  JANUARY,  181Si 


NEW  QEtBAKS; 


a  i| 


AVB  Sim  QfHMR  BUe^AfriNGSi  4] 

thir1>  BBitioir. 


^•«i^ 

I  ^«^ ', 


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'is. 


PHILADELPpA:     -~ 

PUBLISHED   BY  Wlf#^i*bARTY. 


POINTED  BY  M*OARTY  fc  DAVIS,  S;  W.^ffQ-aSEa  0»topil  AND 


OHERRY   STREETS. 


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:L.S.;  t^.  United  Stalen  of  Jmenca,  J.  D.  's'e.  »»^^" 
in  thi,  office,the  HHe  of  a  book,  tHe  rig/>t  thereof  ke  cla,n.,  a> 
,ro,r/or,in  "i'^^^'^jf^'^XTTJeigkU^.  Hundred  and 

«  andoix  otter  ««?«""»f  •". ,  connre,,  of  the  United  States 

entituled  "  Jifi  cc^^or  tne  ^"'^""  /.     .    ^   ^^^  authors  cndproA 
in^  tke ->»i"  ?{^;>^:;^S^^  therein  mentionedA 

ins  the  copes  of  map^^^^^^^  ^^^^^.„   ^.ntioncd^, 

Tdr:t:{z^^^^^^^^^ 

,ravin,,and  etching  /^i^-^-^'^^J^SrEtL, 

•.  ;.\' ::;  .--^  CUrk  of  the  District  of  I 

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of  Pennsylvania 


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CONTENTS. 


Pennsylvania 


PACE. 
9 


Introdii«tien,    -        -        -        -        "       /       V  ^,     , 
Expedition  of  general  Hull,  and  march  through  the  In- 
dian Country,       -        -        -         -        '        A..      " 
Invasion  of  Canada,  and  reconnoitenng  on  the  1  haraes, 
Attack  on  the  British  advanced  posts  and  Fall  of  Miehil- 

Jimackinack,  -        -        :        ",.",." 

Policy  of  Britain  and  America  tovrards  the  Indians, 
Skirmishing,  and  American  supplies  intercepted, 
Battle  of  Maguago,  -        -        -         -        "     ,  '    „ 

Canada  evacuated,  Detroit  summoned,  and  surrender  ot 

the  army,  -   .    -        -         -        -         " 

Massacre  at  Chicago,       -        -        -        .-        -      ^*   f 
Character  of  the  American  navy,     - 
Cruize  of  the  squadron  under  commodore  Rodgers,  and 
pursuit  of  the  Belvidera,       -        -        -         -         -^l 
Escape  of  the  Constitution,       -        -        -         "        "  «k 
<)apture  of  the  Guerriere,         -        -        -         "         -   ^ 
Cruize  of  the  Essex,        -         *        -        - 
Rodgers'  second  cruize,  and  the  Argus,    "        - 
Capture  of  the  Macedonian,      - 
Capture  of  the  Frolic  and  Wasp,      -        - 
Ai&irs  on  the  lakes,  capture  of  the  Caledonia  and  Detroit, 

_  Battle  of  Queenstown,       -      [.s*- ^-^^  ■  ' 

U  Smyth's  abortive  expedition,      -        -        -        -        - 
Military  ardour  of  the  Western  States,  and  fort  Wayne 

relieved,         ..--,--- 
Indian  expeditions,  -        - 

Mpifch  through  the  wilderness  to  Fort  Defiance, 
Failure  of  Tupper*s  projected  expedition. 
Expedition  to  the  rapids  of  Miami,  -        -        - 

Second  expedition  thither,  and  seige  of  Fort  H^^rrison, 
Relief  of  that  post,  and  expedition  against  the  Peoria 

towns,  -        •         -        -        '        "      I  *        ' 

Destruction  of  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Wabash,  * 
Destruction  ^  the  Indian  towns  on  the  Missiasiv^iva^ 
BxpeditiMiTOgaingi  the  Fioriutt  iiidinrMB, 


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The  Bonne  Citoyenue  challenged,        -  -  -.51 

Capture  and  destruction  of  the  Java,  -  -  -        61 

Capture  and  destruction  of  the  Peacock,  -  -        59 

Cruize  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  her  capture  by  the  Shannon,  00 
Capture  of  the  Argus,  -  -  -  -        *'" 

Capture  of  the  Boxer,  ... 

Cruize  of  the  President  and  Congress,  -  - 

Cruize  of  the  Essex,  -  -       "      - 

American  Privateers — The  Rolla  and  the  Comet, 
Tjhe  General  Armstrong  and  the  Becatur, 
^i^ttle  near  the  rirerllaisin,  -  -     *       - 

Battle  of  Frenchtown,  -  - 

Massacre  of  the  prisoners,      -  -  - '  -         *• 

Construction  of  and  siege  of  Fort  Meigs,       -  -- 

Skirmishing  on  the  St  Lawrence,        -  - 

Capture  of  Oedensburg  and  of  York, 
Capture  of  f^rt  George,  -  -  - 

Generals  Chandler  and  Winder  made  prisoners, 
Capture  of  Boerstler's  detachment,     -  -  - 

Attack  on  Sackett's  Harbour,  -  -  « 

Sodus  burnt,  and  second  attempt  on  Sackett's  Harbour, 
Attack  on  Black  Rock,  -  - 

^eige  of  Lower  Sandusky,       -  - 

Norfolk  threatened  by  the  British  squadron  aod  bombard- 
ment of  Lewistown,  -  -  --  - 
Capture  of  the  Dolphin,  &c.  and  action  between  thePoM 
'    and  Adeline, 

Annapolis  and  Baltimore  threatened. 
Burning  of  the  villnges  of  Havre  de  Grace,  &c. 
Atlack  on  Craney  Island,  -  *         :^f; 

Outrages  al  Hampton,  -  .\  i-     "       - 

Decatur's  squadron  driven  into  Nevi'  London, 
Attempt  to  blow  up  the  Ramilics,        -  -  * 

Explosion  of  a  torpedo,  -      •      -  -  - 

Capture. of  the  British  squadron  on  lake  Eric, 
Evacuation  of  Maiden  and  Detroit,     -  -  - 

CapHire  of  the  British  army,  -  -  - 

Moderation  of  the  conquerers,  -     ^       -  — 

Expedition  to  the  Peoria  lake,  V  .V      -  • 

Inactivity  of  ihe  army  at  Fort  George,  - 

Chauncey's  cruises  on  lake  Ontario,     -  -  -* 

Engagement  with  the  Royal-George  under  Kingston  bat- 
teries. 


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CONTENTS. 


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Chauncey's  second  engagement  with  Yeo, 

Capture  of  the  British  transports,     •  -  - 

Movements  on  lake  Champlain,        -  -*  - 

General  Hampton  invades  Canada^ 

Wilkinson  moves  down  the  8t.  Lawrence, 

Battle  of  Williamsbui%h,       -  -  -  - 

Hampton  declines  a  junction^  -  -   ' 

The  army  moves  into  winter  quarters,  * 

Evacuation  of  Fort  George, 

Fort  Niagara  taken,  and  the  Niagara  frontier  laid  waste, 

Events  on  t6e  Southern  frontier,  and  seizure  of  Mobile, 

War  with  the  Creek  Indians,  -  -  - 

Capture  of  Fort  Minis,  -  -  -^ 

Battle  of  Tallusbatehes,         -  -  .  . 

Battle  of  Tailedega,  -  -  -  - 

Destruction  of  the  Hillibee  towns,  -  - 

Battle  of  Autossee, 

Kipedition  to  the  Tallapoosie  river,  -  - 

Retaliation,  -  .  - 

CorrcMJondence  on  the  employment  of  the  Indians,*'  - 

Remarks  o&  the  army  and  navy,        -  -  - 

Breaking  up  of  the  cantonments  at  French  mills,  and 

affair  at  La  Cole  mill,         .... 
General  Wilkinson  suspended,  •*  • 

March  of 'Brown's  army  to  the  Niagara^     •  - 

Htflmei*'  ^xpeditMii  on  the  Thames,  .^  . 

'  {^tnation  of  affaiFs  on  lake  Ontario, 
Attack  on  the  towns  on  the  American  margin  of  the  lake, 
Captupe  of  a  British  detachment  at  Sandy  bay, 
LBtiifning  of  Long  Point,  *  -  -      ^  .##      ' 

iCaptuFe  of  Fort  Erie,  and  Battle  of  Chippewa  pla^, 
iBattie  of  Bridge water^  %  -     *     -  - 

[Attack  upon  Buffalo,  -  - 

[Siege  of  Fort  Erie,  -  . 

fGeneral  assault  of  the  works, 
Capture  of  two  schooners  on  lake  Erie,        •  - 

[Critical  situation  of  the  garrison  in  Fort  Erie, 
[Brilliant  sortie,  -  ^  - 

The  British  raise  the  siege,  ^-  .  -  - 

Expedition  under  general  Bisseil,       -  -  • 

M'Arthur's  expedition  towards  Burlingtdn  Heights, 
[Evacuation  of  Canada^  .... 

[British  depredations  in  the  Chesapeake,        -  - 

[Movements  of  Barnev's  flotillas         -  -  '  - 

I  Pleasures  for  the  defence  of  Baltimore  and  Washington^ 


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..isra*-" 


▼I 


CONTENTS. 


168 
169 
170 


Arrival  of  the  expedition  under  general  Ro§9,     - 
Landing  and  movements  of  the  British  army,      - 

Battle  of  Bladensburg,        '     ,'      '  '        "«  .t, '^nkiL 
Capture  of  Washington,  and  destruction  of  the  public 

buildings,       -        - 
Retreat  of  the  British,         -        •        -        " 
Fort  Warburton  blown  up,  -        -        '        '        I 

Alexandria  plundered,         -        -        '„.',"j      '^Ll 
^parations^or  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  the  plunderers,  178 

Bombardment  of  the  batteries  under  commodores  Fqrter 

*  and  Perry,  "        "        "        '        '        '        ". 

Commodore  Rodgers*^  fire  ships,     ,      "        "        " 

Defeat  and  death  of  sir  Peter  Parker,         -        -        - 
Dismissal  of  the  secretary  of  war,      -      ^  -        -        " 
Conduct  of  the  British  at  Washington  and  Alexandria, 
Burning  of  Newark  and  the  Moravian  towns,      -        - 
Effects  resulting  from  the  burning  of  Washington,  in  Eu- 
rope, and  in  the  United  States,         .         -        -         - 
Attack  upon  Baltimore,  .        .         -        -        - 

Bombardment  of  Fort  M'Hcnry,  -         -        - 

Retreat  of  the  British,        ------ 

Proclamation  of  sir  George  Prevost, 
Repulse  of  the  British  at  Otter  Creek, 
Expedition  against  Plattsburg,  -        -        -.       " 

Capture  of  the  British  squadron  on  lake  Champlain,    - 
Attack  on  the  American  works  near  Plattsburg,      '^ 
Retreat  of  Prevost,  .        .        .        *        - 

Operations  in  New  England,       "        "        "        * 
Bombardment  of  Stonington,       \       '  ,\       ' 
Proclamation  of  neutrality  towards  Eastport,      - 
Capture  of  that  place,        -        -      „".       '        ]?  •     ♦«   oaa 
Capture  of  Castine,  and  destruction  of  the  Adams  frigate,  206 
Surrender  of  the  country  between  the  Penobscot  and  Pas- 

;  samaquoddy  bay,  -        *.        -         "         "        'one 

Expedition  against  Michilhmackmac,  -        -        -^"» 

Destruction  of  the  establishment  at  St.  Mary  s,            -  ^09 

Attack  on  Michillimackinac,       -        -        -        -  o\\ 

Destruction  of  the  establishment  at  Nautauwasaga,      -  an 
Capture  of  the  American  blockading  force  on  lake  Huron,  2  3 

State  affairs  in  the  Creek  Territory,             -        -  Ai 

BatUeof  Ecconachaca,,     -.     ;;^-  --     -        '   '  ^  t\l 

Expedition  of  geueralJactenhr^^*'     -        -        '   -     '  l!! 

AttAP.k  on  ffeneral  Floyd's  camp,         -        -        -     '    '  tvt 

Battle  of  t£e  Horse  Shoe,  -        -        -        -        ■    J^o 

Treaty  of  Peace  with  the  Creeks,      .        ,        -       -    sf^^ 


174 
176 
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7?rl?r*'»^*?'gOl 

«                           • 

202 

m                     • 

208 

«                      • 

20d 

«        .    '            • 

204 

m                       • 

^OS 

B  frigatf 

;,  206 

and  Pas 

,w 

a                      • 

208 

*■                      «i 

208 

. 

209 

■i                                                   # 

210 

^ga,      - 

211 

keHuron,212 

m                      ■ 

.     212 

CONTEXTS. 

Repulse  of  the  British  at  Mobile, 

Proclamatioc  of  colonel  Nichols,        -      .  - 
Destruction  of  the  settlement  at  Barrataria, 

Capture  of  Pensacola, 

Capture  of  the  American  gun-boats  on  lake  Borgne, 
Military  preparations  at  New  Orleans,        -        .        - 
Landing  of  the  British  below  the  town,        -        -        - 
Battle  of  the  23d  of  December,  -        -        -        - 

Description  of  the  country  around  New  Orleans, 
Operations  of  the  British  previous  to  the  8th  of  January, 
Battle  of  New  Orleans/  -        -        -        -        - 

Bombardment  of  Fort  St.  Philip,         -         -        -      ,  - 
Operations  on  the  coast  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia, 

Cruize  of  the  Essex, 

Captain  Porter's  reception  at  Valparaiso, 
Destruction  of  the  British  commerce  in  the  Pacific,     - 
The  Happah  war,  .        .        -        ^        -        - 

Typee  war,  ■     ,  '        "        '        '      .  " 

Madison's  Island,        -------- 

Capture  of  the  Essex,         -        -        -        - 

Seqjuel  of  the  cruize,  -        -        -        - 

Result  of  the  campaign  on  the  Ocean,  -        -'       - 

Destruction  of  the  General  Armstrong,         -        -        - 
iPeaee  between  America  and  Great  Britain, 
Its  reception  in  the  two  countries,  -        -        - 

Lessons  taught  by  the  war,  -        -        -        - 


Vll 

228 

224 

220 

226 

227 

228 

228 

229 

280 

280 

231 

284 

284 

2Z5 

237 

237 

238 

239 

240 

240 

246 

247 

248 

250 

250 

252 


.  213 

.  214 

V  218 

.  222 


-JU 


r 


DIRECTIONS  TO  THE  BINDER. 

Plate  I.  liikeness  of  general  Pike  to  face  the  title  page, 
II.  Congtit«tion  and  Guerriere,  to  face  page 
.    in.  United  States  and  Macedonian,  to  faee  page 
IV.  Wasp  and  Frolic,  to  face  page       -  »      ^ 
V.  Pcrry'»  victory,  to  faee  page 
VI.  Battle  of  North  Point,  to  ftiee  page 
VII.  Battle  of  New  OrteaiWj  to  fece  page        -        - 


24 
37 
28 
95 
192 


Mi 


I. 


HISTORY 


OP  THE 


AMERICAN  WAR. 


DURING  the  last  thirty  years  the  United  States  has  been 
increasing  in  population  and  wealth  in  a  ratio  unparalleled  in 
history.    Within  that  period,  its  numbers  have  been  more  than 
doubled,  while  its  forests  have  been  rapidly  changing  into  cul- 
tivated fields,  and  flourishing  towns  and  villages  rising,  as  if 
by  magic,  in  the  midst  of  the  wilderness.     These  blessings, 
however,  have  not  been  entirely  unalloyed.   The  rapid  increase 
of  wealth  had  introduced  luxury,  with  its  accompanying  evils, 
and  had,  especially  in  the  larger  cities,  considerably  sullied  our 
I'epublican  simplicity  of  manners.     Our  extensive  commerce, 
too,  had  embroiled  us  with  several  of  the  European  powers, 
and  finally  involved  us  in  war;  while  the  thirst  for  speculation 
which  it  had  excited  in  almost  every  class,  has  undoubtedly 
had  a  demoralizing  tendency,  thougH  not  perhaps  in  the  degree 
I  attributed  to  it  by  some  politicians,  who  have  placed  solely  to 
[that  account  the  want  of  public  spirit  and  nationality,  which 
[has  been  charged  to  this  country.     The  late  war,  whatever 
bther  evils  it  may  have  introduced,  has  certainly  checked  this 
jvil.     It  has  raised  the  character  of  the  nation  in  Uie  eyes-cf 
breign  powers,  and  erected  an  altar  of  national  glory  on  which 
lall  local  prejudices  have  been  sacrifice,  and  politicians  of 
[every  party  have  joined  hand  in  hand  to  celebrate  the  triumphs 
[of  our  country.  $ 

A  formal  declaration  of 'war  against  Great  Britain,  was  pass% 
[ed  by  congress  on  the  18th  of  June,  1812,  which  was  proclaim- 
ed by  the  president  on  the  following  day.     At  this  time  thr 
whole  naval  force  of.the  Uniled  States  amounted  only  to  seven 
[frigates,  and  a  few  sloops  of  war  ^and  other  smaller  vessels. 
The  land  forces  were  next*  m  nothing.     An  army  of  35,000 
men,  it  is  true,  were  authorized  by  congress,  and  the  president 
|was  empowered  to  call  out  100,000  militia;  but  the  latter  spe- 
jcies  of  force,  though  strong  in  defensive  operation,  in  offensive 
[is  perhaps  worse  than  nothing,  and  in  a  free  country  like  this, 
[where  a  comfortable  subsistence  is  so  readily  procured,  the' 


^^  HreTOHY  OF  THE  WAR. 

„,„hn*inu.  of  a  larec  regular  force  U  far  from  being  the  w.tk 
r^a  d^    ^esS'me^ime  is  necessary  to  change  the  h^- 

fs  o  In  from  ciW.  to  miUtaiy;  "» ''""f '  VP^'^^^he  pe^ 
ndolence  cannot  at  once  execute  the  duties  and  meet  the  pe- 
ri^rf^a.^    Considerable  difficulties  we.e  experienced  hke- 
wse  in  finding  officers  fitted  for  command.    Many  of  the  re- 
"  utionavv  S-actcrs  were  dead,  and  those  who  ^"-jVived  were 
almost  too  old  for  active  service.    In.this  state  of  thuigs,  can 
h  l,e  1     "biect  of  wonder  that  the  raw  forces  of  the  United 
Statrs  l.cXd  by  officers  who  had  never  seen  service,  and  ac- 
c™td  by  rLh  militia,  without  subordination,  should  ex- 
nSce  some  disasters  in  the  commencement  ot  their  career? 
?*lete  dirasters,  however,  have  th.-own  no  disgrace  on  the 
AVnericnn  .«mc.     On  the.contrary,  the  conduct  of  *!>«  Ame- 
l^^an  an^clhas  veOected  honour  on  their  country,  and  all  their 
r«  ersThave  been  occasioned  either  by  the  rashness  of  un- 
disci^^d  bravery,  or  by  the  misconduct  er  inexperience  «f 

''l^nTtlSisadvantage,  under  which  the  army  W»u^ed,  'he 
little  navy  of  America  was  entirely  free.     The  previous  em 
ba-rassmLtsof  corar^-rce  rendered  it  easy  for  our  naval  offi- 
cerAoTupply  themselves  with  a  sufficienniumber  of  seamen, 
™d  lilh  mJ.  too  V.  '.o  ha<l  all  their  lives  been  engaged  m  si- 
rtnaAnu»«il».  »'■..-!  -mder  the  most  rigorous  disciphnej  for  we 
anmUe  d  that  but  little  difference  exists  as  to  discipline  and 
teneral  habits  between  a  merchantman  and  a  «h.p  of  war 
^  At™  e  time  of  the  declaration  of  war,  general  Hull,  gover- 
•lor  of  The  territory  of  Michigan,  was  on  his  march  thi-ough 
Z  Indian  country  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  with  ^"""'yof  »^out 
,nm.  mrn    destined  for  Detroit.     In  the  preceding  month  of 
AnrVt^e  governor  of  Ohio  had  been  ordered  by  the  president 
to  ca  1  out^200  miliia.     This  requisition  was  principally  fill 
d  X  by  volunteers  who  rendezvoused  .t  Dayton  on  the  29th 
'    of  April  anXere  shortly  after  pl»ced  under  the  command  of : 
ce,« ra    Hull.  ^In  the  beginning  of  June  the  detachment  ad- 
danced  to  Urbanna,  where,  on  tl  e  tenth,  they  were  lomed  by 
the  4th  regiment  of  United  States  infantry.     The  following 
dw  they  commenced  their  march  through  the  wilderness. 
I^vom  Urbanna  to  the  rapids  of  the  Miami  of  the  Lakes,  the 
oniArv  bi:lm.es  to  the  Indians,  and  is  entirely  destitute  of, 
Ws."  l^m  fhe  rapids  to  Detroit,  along  Lake  Erie  and  De-, 
,roU   iver,  arc  various  settlements,  principal  y  of  French  Ca- 
uo.t  uvei,      ^^^^  ^^^^^  of  GreenvUle,  concluded  by  general] 
he  Indian's  in  1795,  a  number  of  tracts,  generally  i 
to  the  United  States,  winch  forn 


Ur 


ylK    1 


tTiil.!S  squa 


re,  \v*»re  cedi 


!.■■*#" 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


11 


*!® 


ingthe  wrirk 
nge  the  hab- 
I  to  ease  and 
meet  the  pe- 
:ienced  like- 
ly of  the  re- 
Lirvived  were 
r  things,  can 
the  United 
vice,  and  ac- 
I,  should  ex- 
their  career? 
jrace  on  the 
of  the  Amc- 
,  and  all  their 
hness  of  un- 
jxperience  of 

laboured,  the 
previous  em- 
►ur  naval  offi- 
er  of  seamen, 
n  gaged  in  si- 
ipline;  for  we 
discipline  and 
ip  of  war. 
I  Hull,  gover- 
\arch  through 
army  of  about 
ding  month  of 
r  the  president 
irincipally  fill 
an  on  the  29th 
e  command  of ' 
etachment  ad- 
here joined  by 
The  following 
»vilderness. 
the  Lakes,  the 
ily  destitute  of  j 
i  Erie  and  De-i 
of  French  Ca- 
ded  by  general] 
•acts,  generally  i 
es,  which  foni)j 


chains  of  posts  joining  the  lakes  with  the  Ohio  by  the  course 
of  the  navigable  rivers  and  the  portages  connecting  them.  By 
the  treaty  a  free  passage  both  by  land  and  water  was  to  be  al- 
lowed to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  along  these  chains  of 
pos^s  Forts  or  block-houses  have  been  erected  and  garri- 
soned in  most  of  these  ceded  tracts  since  the  declaration  ot 
war,  but  at  the  time  that  the  country  was  traversed  by  general 
Hull's  detachment,  no  civilized  being  was  to  b-.  seen  between 
UiH^anna  aiyi  the  Rapids,  a  distance  of  at  least  130  ""i*^*^ 

Towards  the  eiid  of  June  the  army  arrived  at  the  Rapids, 
where  a  beautiful  and  i-omantic  country  suddenly  opened  to 
their  view,  enlivened  by  the  signs  of  oultivation,  and  by  the 
dwellings  of  their  countiymen.  Here  a  beam  of  joy  animated 
every  countenance,  and  gave  fresh  energy  and  fortitude  to 
those  who  had  undergone  with  difficulty  the  fatigues  of  a 
march  at  once  gloomy  and  oppressive.  On  meawhoM^i  just 
emerged  from  a  dreary  wilderness,  unincumbered  by  a  single 
hut  reared  by  the  hand  of  civilization,  occupied  by  nought  but 
Indiatis  and  beasts  of  prey,  the  change'  of  scenery  had  a  won- 
derful effect. 

After  stopping  here  one  day  for  refreshment,  the^my  re* 
commenced  their  march,  having  previously  loaded  a  sniall 
schooner  with  the  hospital  stores  and  officers*  baggage,  which 
was  dispatched  to  Detroit  by  water,  under  a  guard  of  a  lieuten- 
ant and  thirty  men.  Before  "they  reached  Detroit  the  army 
were  informed  of  the  capture  of  dve  schooner,  and  of  the  de- 
claration of  war.  On  the  morning  of  the  5th  of  July,  they  ar- 
rived  at  Spring  Wells,  opposite  Sandwich,  within  a  few  miles 
I  of  Detroit,  where  they  encamped. 

As  general  Hull  had  received,  before  his  taking  command 
)f  the  army,  discretionary  powers  to  act  offensively  in  case  of 
[war,  the  invasion  of  Canada  was  now  determined  on,  and  the 
[utmost  diligence  was  used  in  preparation  for  that  event.    The 
iarms  of  the  troops  were  repaired,  a  pait  of  the  ordnance  found 
in  the  fort  at  Detroit  wm  mounted,  and  every  exertion  wa* 
used  by  the  officers  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  the  soi4iei7 
the  tiecessity  of  strict  discipline  and  obedience  to  orders.       • 
On  the  I2th  of 'July  the  army  crossed  into  Canada,  with  the 
exception  of  a  smalt  part  of  one  company  of  militia,  that  re~ 
f;sed  td  pass  the  river.     They  encamped  at  Sandwich,  a  little 
below  Detroit,  where  a  proclamation  was  issued  by  general 
Hull.     The  inhabitants  fled  in  the  utmost  consternation  on  the 
approach  of  the  army,  but  on  receiving  the  proclamation,  ma- 
ny (Kf  thera  returned  to  their  homes.  # 

i4tii  a  company  of  niiUliu  and  a  rifle  Coffis*  under 


12 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WA&. 


coloTifil  M< Arthur  were  detached  to  reconnoitre  the  Country. 
They  penetrated  to  McGregor's  mills,  upon  th«  the  river  La 
Tranche,  or  Thames,  a  short  distance  from  the  field  of  battle 
■where  the  British  army  was  captured  fifteen  months  after- 
wards by  general  Harrison.  On  the  irth,  they  returned  to 
camp,  having  collected  a  great  quantity  of  provisions,  and  a 
number  of  blankets,  besides  a  considerable  quantity  of  ammu- 
nition and  other  miUtary  stores.       -  *    ' 

That  part  of  Upper  Canada  traversed  by  the  detachment  is 
described  by  one  of  the  volunteers  that  composed  it  as  ex- 
tremely fertile  and  beautiful.  The  fields  of  wheat  and  Indian 
corn  were  remarkably  fine;  but  as  every  male  capable  of  bear* 
ing  arms  had  been  drafted  for  the  defence  of  the  province^ 
vast  quantities  of  the  wheat  remained  ungathei-ed. 

On  the  16th,  another  reconnoitering  party  of  280  men,  un- 
der colonehCass,  was  dispatched  in  an  opposite  direction, 
towards  Fort  Maiden,  where  the  British  and  Indians  had  cob-* 
centrated  their  forces.  .        :x 

Maiden,  or  Amherstburgh,  is  situated  near  the  junction  of 
Detroit  river  with  lake  Erie,  about  thirteen  mile*  sou  »  from 
the  camp  of  general  HuM  at  Sandwich*    The  road  lies  along 
4he  river,  and  crosses  two  creeks,  and  the  river  Aax  Canards, 
the  latter  about  four  miles  Iron*  Maiden.     Cassis  detachmem 
found  the  British  advanced  posts  in  possession  of  a  bndge^vcr 
the  Aux  Canards.    After  examininj^  their  position,  the  colonel 
posted  a  company  of  riflemen  near  the  bridge,  and  forded  the 
riv6r  about  five  miles  above  with  the  remainder  of  his  force 
with  the  intention  of  surprising  the  Britisji  post.    For  that  pur- 
pose the  riflemen  Were  instructed  to  commence  firing,  in  or- 
der to  divert  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  as  soon  as  they  should 
perceive  their  companions  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river. 
Unfoitimately,  however,  being  entirely  destitute  of  guides, 
the  detachment  marched  too  near  the  bank  of  the  river,  and 
found  their  progress  checked  by  a  creek,  which  obliged  them 
'  to  make  a  circuit  of  two  or  three  miles.    This  gave  the  enemy 
lime  to  make  their  arrangement-   and  prepare  for  ^heir^de- 
fcnce.    On  being  attacked,  however,  they  retreated  to  Mai- 
den, and  left  the  bridge  in  possession  of  the  detachment;  but 
as  colonel  Cass  had  received  no  ardera  to  keep  possession  of 
any  post,  but  had  been  sent  merely  to  reconnoitre,  this  bridge, 
which  formed  the  principal  obstruction  between  the  American 
camp  and  Maiden,  was  abandoned,  and  the  detachment  return- 
ed to  camp.  .     J  s 

tive  at  Sandwich.    Not  a  single  cannon  or  mortar  was  on 


open< 

losev 

The 

tents 

ilexio 


^riou 
^fthe 
ieighl 
Lcep  t 
)ly  al 
wai 
^hod 
rom  1 


leans 


vas  j 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


i.' 


Lhe  Country. 
Jie  river  La 
5ld  of  battle 
onthft  after* 
returnod  to 
aions,  and  a 
;y  of  ammu- 

itachmcnt  is 
cd  it  as  ex- 
t  and  Indian 
able  of  bear* 
he  province) 

• 

80  men,  un- 
:e  direction, 
ms  had  con- 

B  junction  of 

Eld  lies  along 
MX  Canardsj 
1  detachmeitt , 
ibndge^vcT 
I,  the  colonel 
id  forded  the 
of  hb  force 
For  that  pur- 
firing,  in  op- 
i  they  should 
of  the  river, 
e  of  guides, 
he  river,  and 
obliged  them 
ve  the  enemy 
for  their  de- 
sated  to  Mai" 
ichment;  but 
possession  of 
>,  this  bridgei 
he  American 
iment  returi*- 

ortar  was  on 

s 


rheels  suitable  for  the  attack  of  Maiden;  nor  was  it  until  the 
thof  Aucust  that  two  24  pounders  and  three  iwwiizcra  were 
repared.    Previous  to  that  day,  however,  a  great  change  had 
iken  place  in  the  prospects  of  the  Americana,     i  ^i<=  Jfws  of 
le  surprise  and  capture  of  the  island  and  fort  of  Michilh- 
lackinac*  by  a  combined  force  of  British  and  Indi-^.ns,  w-hich 
)ok  place  Oft  the  irth  of  July,  and  reached  the  army  on  the  28th. 
^he  surrender  of  this  post  is  stated  by  general  Hull  to  have 
opened  the  northern  hive  of  Indians,"  and  to  have  induced 
lose  who  had  hithertobeen  friendly  to  pass  over  to  the  British. 
The  policy  observed  by  the  British  and  American  govern^ 
lents  towards  the  Indians  was  of  a  diametrically  opposite  coin, 
jlexion.    The  American  government  did  every  thing  mils 
i)ower  to  civilize  those  unfortunate  tribes  who  live  within 
ttieir  limits,  and  to  introduce  among  them  the  practice  of  agri- 
culture and  the  mechanic  arts,  with  a  view  to  wean  them  trom 
iie  hunter  state,  a  state  which  is  becoming  daily  more  pre. 
larious  and  unprofitable  from  the  increase  of  the  population 
If  the  country,  and  which  renders  them  extremely  dangerous 
leighLours.    The  policy  of  the  British,  on  the  contrary,  is  to 
ieep  them  in  their  hunter  state,  by  which  they  not  only  sup- 
fly  a  lucrative  branch  of  trade,  but  furnish  a  powerful  weapon 
1  war.    It  is  not  to  b^  wondered  at,  then,  that  the  Indians, 
fho  delight  in  warfare,  and  all  of  whose  habits  are  averse 
rom  the  pursuits  of  civilized  life,  should  cling  to  the  British, 
jid  should  view  the  Americans,  from  thf  ir  rapid  increase  of 
lopulation  and  strength,  with  jealousy  and  dislike.    From 
ais  cause  Canada  has  ever  been  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  the 
Jnited  States.    While  in  possession  of  the  French,  by  whom 
was  originally  settled,  the  most  powerful  effoits  were  made 
f  the  British  and  provincial  troofp.  tS  gain  possession  of  the 
lountry. 

In  the  French  war  of  1756,  aftw  three  wholly  disastrous 

tampaigns,  and  one  of  mingled  disaster  «nd  success,  the  Amc- 

icans,  assisted  by  powerful  British  aid,  at  last  succeeded  in 


*  Michillimackinac,  or  Makincy  is  a  smnll  island  situat$d  in 

\ke  entrance  of  the  strait  between  lakes  Huron  and  ARchigan. 

'he  fart  is  the  most  northern  military  fiottt  in  the  United  State^^,^] 

'ere  a  great  fair  iffjif^  annually  held<,  previous  to  the  ivar^^tvhich 

as  firincifially  frequented  by  the  Indian  traders  anet  tkc  •mer- 

hav-Hof  MoniTfiaL  for  the  fittrMese  of  e-xclt^ginff  the  fitltrics 

he  uncivilized  regions/or  the  manufactures  of  Great  liri" 


Jam, 


B  2 


14 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


ifi 


i 


il 


uniting  Cattada  to  the  British  dominions,  and  thereby  restorini 
peace  to  their  harras^e^  frontiers.  The  same  complainu 
against  the  possessors  of  Cunada  for  exciting  the  Indians  n 
hostility  were  urged  in  those  days,  that  have  been  repeatei 
agalrist  their  successors  tl^e  British,  and  by  none  was  the  ust^ 
of  this  weapon  more  reprobated  than  by  those  who  lately  em- 
ployed  it.  Such  is  the  different  lights  in  which  a  subject  apj 
pears  when  it  operates  for  or  against  us!  b 

By  the  fall  of  Michillimackinac,  the  junction  of  the  Iirdiansl 
and  the  reinforcements,  both  of  militia  and  regulars,  which  thef 
inactivity  of  the  Americans  enabled  the  British  to  collectfoif 
the  defence  of  Maiden,  it  soon  became  evident  that  no  effective^ 
measures  towards  the  reduction  of  Canada  could  be  undertak| 
en  by  this  army. 

Several  skirmishes  happened  bptween  reconnoitering  partief 
of  the  Americans  and  the  Indians  and  British  advanced  posts 
towards  the  end  of  July  and  in  the  beginning  of  August,  h 
which  both  sides  claimed  the  victory.  Most  of  these  skirmislij 
es  took  place  near  the  river  Aux  Canards.  By  these  parties  i| 
was  discovered  that  the  bridge  over  that  river  had  been  takeil 
up  by  thfc  British,  except  the  sleepers;  that  a  battery  wa| 
erected  at  one  end  of  it;  and  that  the  Queen  Charlotte,  whichi 
carried  eighteen  24  pounders,  lay  in  the  Detroit  river,  ai  the| 
mouth  of  the  Aux  Canards,  about  a  mile  from  the  bridge,' 
with  a  gun-boat  cruizing  round  her.  ^  ""V  .>    j 

In  the  mean  time  the  Indians  had  crossed  the  Detroit,  and^ 
cut  off  the  communication  of  the  American  army  with  thc;^ 
state  of  Ohio,  on  which  they  depended  for  supplies.     As  a  | 
small  reinforcement  of  volunteers,  with  a  quaintlty  of  provi*^^ 
sions  for  the  army,   was  daily  expected  by  this  route,  a  corjJSfJ 
of  200  men  was  detachecbon  the  4th  of  A'lgust  to  open  thd^ 
communication.   This  detatchment  fell  into   an  ambuscadef 
which  was  formed  by  the  Indians  at  Brownstown,  where  thej 
were  totally  defeated;  and  returned  to  camp  without  effecting 
th^  object  of  their  expedition.   About  the  same  time  an  ex* 
press  arrived  from  general  Hall,  the  American  commandtf  ob| 
the  Niagara  frontier,  stating  that  there  was  no  prospect  of  a| 
feo-operation  from  that  quarter.  .  ^  ^^.    'f  I 

It  being  indispensably  necessary  to  c^n  the  cdmmdmcmf  io«" 
with  Ohio,  general  Hull  i'esolved  to  sijspend  the  operations, 
against  Maiden,  and  to  concentrate  the^lMflbFC^  «i  tihe  armyj 
at  Detroit.  Uuwilling,  however,  to  nhSS^^  *h«  ii»ftl|^tant5 
<SiC  Upper  Canadflmany  of  whom  had  accepted  his  pr<fiieti<»j 
under  the  proclamation,  he  established  *a  fortress  o§  the  bankil 
of  the  river,  a  little  above  Sandwich,  where  he  left#  garriioflj 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


«s 


of  SOO  men.  The  remainder  of  the  army  recrossed  the  river 
and  encamped  at  Detroit,  on  the  evening  of  the  7th  and  the 
morning  of  the  8th  of  August. 

In  pursuance  of  the  object  of  opening  the  comitmnication 
600  men  were  immediately  detached  under  lieutenant-colonel 
Miller.  This  detachment  consisted  principally  of  the  regular 
troops,  and  a  corps  of  artillerists,  with  one  six  pounder  and  a 
howitzer,  a  small  body  of  cavalry,  and  detachments  from  the 
Ohio  and  Michigan  volunteers.  They  marched  from  Detroit 
on  the  8th  of  August,  and  on  the  9th,  about  4  P.  M.  the  van 
guard  was  fired  upon  by  an  extensive  line  of  British  and  In- 
dians at  the  lower  part  of  Maguago,  about  14  miles  from  De- 
troit. The  van  guard  maintained  their  position  in  a  most  gal-' 
lant  manner,  under  a  very  heavy  fire  until  the  line  was  formed, 
when  the  whole  except  the  rear  guard,  was  brought  into  action. 
The  enemy  were  formed  behind  a  temporary  breast  work  of 
logs,  the  Indians  extending  in  a  thick  wood  on  their  left.  The 
Americans  advanced  till  within  a  small  distance  of  the  ene- 
my, where  they  made  a  general  discharge,  and  then  proceed- 
ed with  charged  bayonets.  The  enemy  maintained  their  po- 
sition till  forced  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet,  when  they  com- 
menced a  retreat.  They  were  pursued  in  the  most  vigorous 
manner,  about  two  miles,  when  the  pursuit  Was  discontinued  on 
account  of  the  fatigue  of  the  troops,  the  approach  of  evening, 
and  the  necessity  of  returning  to  take  care  of  the  wounded.—- 
The  Indians  in  this  battle  were  under  the  command  ofTecum- 
seh,  and  are  said  to  have  fought  with  great  obstinacy. 

The  British  regulars  and  volunteers  in  this  action  are  stated 
in  general  Hull's  despatch  to  have  amounted  to  400,  with  a 
larger  number  of  Indians:  the  Americans  were  600  in  number. 
The  American  loss  was  18  killed  and  64  wounded:  the  loss  of 
the  British  was  not  ascertained.  Four  of  their  regulars  were 
made  prisoners,  who  stated  that  the  commander,  major  Muir, 
j_  and  two  subalterns  were  wounded,  and  that  15  were  killed  and 
wounded  of  the  4lst  regiment;  and  as  the  militia  and  volun- 
teers Mr  ere  in  the  severest  part  of  the  action,  their  loss  must 
have  been  much  greater.  About  40  Indians  were  found  dead 
on  the  field;  and  Tecumseh,  their  leader,  was  slightly  wounded; 
the  number  of  wounded  Indians  was  not  ascertained. 

Nothing,  howeverj  but  honour  was  gained  by  this  victory. 
The  comnAunicatteli  was  opened  no  farther  than  the  |>oint6  of 
their^bSJyonets  extendW;  and  the  nccessary^are  of  the  i^ck  and 
wounded,  and  a  severe  storm  of  rain,  rendWed^heir  return  to 
camp  indispensably  necessary.  Boats  had  been  sent  from  De- 
troit to  transport  the  wounded  thither  by  water,  but  the  attempt 


HISTORY  OP  THE  WAR. 
to 

.•    ui.    Th,  boats  beine  descried  from  Mal- 

was  found  imP™*^"?^'"- Trh«totte  were  despatched  in  pur- 
den,  the  Hunter  and  Queen  Charlottes  1^^^^  ^^^ 

^^t''?S^:o"dsra:d1he'^?--''--'^'-««^^ 

"-^T>lSwtrrett^^^^^^^^ 

wrdingly  the  fort  »*  ^andw.ch  was  ^_^  ^        ^^ 

Suspicions  f /■*'|5!'f '^^",^tara  of  the  army  to  Detroit  had 
arise  immediately  atwr  the  return         ^^^    ^  ^^^^  . 

now  become  very  Pi^tf  !*"*  ^ohi|  b,  five  of  the  principal  of- 

wnttento  governor  M"£'°f^^X  every  effort  to  open  the 
ficers,  begging  himmsUmU^om^^^^^^  ^^^^  JP^^^^._ 

communication,  and  mtorramg  n.m 

cions.  .t  or.»rflii>r  atterttJt  was  made  to   pene- 

On  the  l«h  of  Aiig;ust  another  attemp  j^e  detach- 

trate  to  the  river  «»«'"•  ^^^^'^-.t"  the  previsions.    Colonels 
„ent  from  O''"'  hj'd  amved^Uh^^^  ^^^^^.^^  ^^^^ 

M' Arthur  and  Cass  seleciea  *""        ^  ^       ^he  same 

tad  set  off  by  an  upper  route  threugbt>.e^^^ 

day  the  British  began  t°  «>„"' ^"hed  ?^o  officers  with  a 

fla^"oftuc?  -rs^SwWc^^^^^^^^  been  ta.en 

flag  of  wuce.  "r"™  "  British,  requiring  the  surrender  of  Fort 
??V"!rttams  of  hU  Britannic  tSajesty,  and  threatening 
Detroit  to  the  arms  oi  ""  , , .        't,oul  the  moment  the 

that  the  Indians  would  ^«  bjjdi.^  cont.       ^  ^ 

contest  commenced.  _Y!"*rforce  which  might  be  at  his  dis- 
that  he  was  ready  to  ™«"»"yr^''Xht  result  from  his  exer- 
posal,  and  ="j;»:X"n  ofThrSag  ot^^^ce,  the  British  com- 

firdlrfira"d^rwtelt'?mTro^j:  Uthat night,  and  at^ 
l^ho^'ay  the  firing  was  re^^^^^^^^^^^  ^^^  ^.^^^ 

°r"^tlas^De»oit^a^d  tU  BrlLh  and  IndLs  landed 
nearly  as  high  »»  U="°"'  *""  '  advancing  towards  the 

CXr'get^alHu^r^Sere'd  T.^iA^ot.  hoisted,  and 
the  fiT^nr  fbe  d  scontinued.  The  firing  from  the  opposite 
"/immediately  stopt,  and  a  P-^^l^yj^'^f j.^'^S^r.^i; 

^•raU^'tSr:^3UC»mi^^^^^^ 

With  all  the  troops^ic^uia    ^^^  ^^^^  ^^^  nnMic  natuw.  were 

iurrt"e^ero^KS."'Tle-mili«a"a^d7olunteerswere 

tobe  perr^itt^to  go  home,  on  condition  of  not  servmg  again 

m  eSged.    The  detachment  with  the  provisions  at  the 


HISTORY  OF  THlE  WAR. 


17 


\e  to  pene- 
the  detach- 
\.  Colonels 
ective  men, 

The  same 
Detroit, 
icers  with  a 

been  taken 
ider  of  Fort 

threatening 
moment  the 
wep,  replied, 
be  at  his  dis- 
oTO  his  exer- 
British  com- 
vhich  wa«  vi- 
;  British  con- 
nighty  and  a£ 

.  up  the  river 
adians  landed 
;  towards  the 
e  hoisted,  and 
1  the  opposite 
W,  when  arti- 
h  fort  Detroit, 
th  all  the  pub- 
c  nature,  were 
>lunteers  were 
serving  again 
ovisiona  at  the 


rivet  Raisin,  and  that  under  colonel  M*  Arthur,  which  had  been 
lent  to  meet  it,  were  included  in  the  surrender.  It  was  ttipu- 
jited  that  private  persons  and  property  of  every  desciiption 
Should  be  respected.  .**.*    i.  _, 

I  Shortly  after  this  capitulation  took  place  colon  of  M  Arthurs 
letachment  returned  to  Detroit,  their  attempt  to  penetrate  to 
[he  river  Raisin  having  proved  equally  unsuccessful  with  the 
former  ones.  When  the  y  arrived  within  a  mile'of  that  place, 
they  learnt  its  surrender,  on  which  a  council  was  held,  when  it 
VaS  determined  to  send  an  officer  to  the  fort  with  a  flag  of  truce, 
[n  the  evening  he  retured  with  two  Bristish  officers,  who  in- 
>rmed  them  that  they  were  prisoners  of  war.  The  detachment 
len  marched  to  Detroit,  where  they  stacked  their  arms  on  the 
titadeJ.  .■...^.%....- ... /  ?v;-w-      ^ 

^  The  day  following  the  surrender  of  the  arniy,  a  British  ofti- 
^er  arrived  at  the  river  Raisin  and  delivered  to  capt^n  Brush; 
the  commander  of  the  detachment  from  Ohio,  copies  of  the  ca- 
pitulation, and  of  a  letter  from  colonel  M*  Arthur,  stating  that 
lis  force  was  included  ii«  the  surrender.  At  first  these  papers 
irere  considered  forgeries,  and  the  officer  and  his  party  were 
^ut  into  confinement;  but  theiri*uth  being  confirmed  by  several 
)ldies  who  had  made  their  escape  froin  the  garrison  at  De- 
>oit>  a  council  of  the  officers  was  held  to  consider  what  was 
popcr  to  be  done.  This  council  decided  that  general  Hull  had 
right  to  capitulate  for  them  and  that  they  were  not  bound 
his  acts;  and  they  accordingly  concluded  instantly  to  return 
Ohio,  and  to  carry  with  them  all  the  public  property  that  was 
>ssible.    It  was  determined,  however,  that  it  would  be  impro- 
sr  to  destroy  those  public  stores  that  could  not  be  carried  off, 
i  there  were  a  number  of  American  families  who  had  taken 
|fuge  in  the  fort,  and  some  soldiers  who  were  too  sick  to  be 
loved,  had  to  be  left  behind.  It  was  likewise  conceived,  that 
le  destruction  of  the  stoi^es  might  induce  the  enemy  to  deal 
[ore  rigidly  with  the  garrison  at  Detroit.    These  resolutions 
I  the  council  were  immediately  carried  into  effect,  f\nd  the  de- 
Ichment  retui'ned  to  the  settlements. 
Twenty^ve  pieces  of  iron  and  8  of  brass  ordnance  fell  into' 
^e  hands  of  tlie  British  at  Detroit,  several  of  the  latter  being 
^ces  which  had  been  surrendered  by  Burgoyne  on  tbe  same 
ly,  35  years  before,  via.  the  16th  of  August  1777.    Twenty* 
^e  hundred  muskets  and  rifles,  and  a  considerable  quantity 
'  ammunition  likewise  fell  into  their  han4|i* 
The  reasons  stated  by  general  Hall  for  0is  unfortuiuite  sur- 

j^ « _        ^» __^     . i^     . ._i_       _n      *_•  __     £^^^^ ^    J ,  «,.  «  ^'*:r.  f    -i.ls.,=. 


euucr,  were    viic     |^ic;j»l  iiitci iuiit-jr  \t».    aita  aw«v«' 

emy,  joined  to  the  numerous  band  of  Indians,  ^v!lo  we^  daily 


vh( 


18 


HISTORY  OP  THE  WAR. 


increasing  in  number;  the  hazardous  situation  in  ^^ich  the  dcJ 
tachment  under  colonels  M' Arthur  and  Cass   was  placed;  and 
L^e  inUTuty  of  furnishing  hisarmy  wUh  the  necessary  sup-j 
bUes  ifprovisions,  military  stores,  clothing;  and  comforts  fo»^ 
the  lickf  rpack  horses  through  a  wilderness  of  200  mil^s, 
HuedwHh  Ztile  savages.  The  cbntest,  heobserves,  couldnot; 
Sa^  Sen  sustained  nS,re  than  a  day  for  the  wunt  of  powder,^ 
^dbut  a  very  few  days  for  the  want  of  provisions.    «  A  large 
^tion,"  continues  he,  «  of  the  brave  and  gallant  officers  and 
SSh  I  commanded,  would  cheerfully  have  contested  until  he 
utt  cartridge  had  been  expended,  and  the  bayonets  worn  to  tM 
^kets.    I  could  not  consent  te  the  usekss  sacrifice  of  sucb 
brave  men,  when  I  knew  it  was  impossible  for  me  to  su8tain| 

my  situation."  ,.       •     ,.  .      j.,     *^«ju^«* 

The  disasters  accompanying  this  expedition  did  not  end  here. 
4)n  the  change  of  prospects  in  general  Hull's  army  in  Canad^ 
a  messenger  was  despatched  to  Chicago,  or  fort  Dearborn,  si- 
mated  near  the  south-west  corner  of  lake  Michigan,  with  or- 
ders  to  captam  Heald  to  evacuate  that  post,and  proceed  with. 
his  command,  which  consisted  of  66  men,  to  Detroit,  leaving  0 
to  his  discretion  to  dispose  of  the  public  property  as  he  «»<^gW| 
pitmer.  The  neighbouring  Indians,  hearing  that  the  good*  m| 
the  Victory  were  to  be  given  to  them,  crowded  into  thej«rt^ 
from  all  quarters.    On  the  13th  of  August,  captain  Wells  ar  , 
rived  from  fort  Wayne  with  30  Miamies,  whom  he  had  brougftlji 
by  request  of  general  Hull,  for  the  purpose  of  escorting  th^l 
ffardson  to  Detroit.    The  following  day  all  the  goods  m  th«| 
factory  store  were  delivered  to  the  Indians.  The  surplus  arrm  | 
and  ammunition,  however,  and  the  spirituous  liquors  were^  dc  J 
stroyed,  lest  the  Indians  should  make  a  bad  use  of  them  if  pv*^^ 

into  their  possession.  ,  ^   .  "^         .r     r» f  :♦ 

On  the  1 5th  the  garrison  commenced  their  march  tor  Detroi\ 
a  pan  of  the  Miamies  being  detached  in  front,  and  the  re!maui| 
der  in  the  rear,  as  guards,  under  the  direction  of  captain  WeU9| 
Their  course  lay  along  the  beach  of  lake  Michigan,  the  lak^ 
on  their  left,  and  a  high  sand  bank  on  their  ri^ht,  distant  aboul 
lOOyards*  They  had  not  proceeded  two  miles  before  thef 
were  fired  on  by  the  Indians  fi:om  behind  the  bank,  and  an  ad 
tion  immediately  commenced;  but  the  Miamies  giving  the  gaij 
rison  no  assistance,  in  fifteen  imnutes  thirty-eight  soWlers,  tif^ 
women^  and  twelve  children  were  killed^  and  the.  Indians  hi 
toiined  possession  ff  all  their  horses,  provisions  and  baggag 

were  then  carried  back  to  the  fort,  wid^ distributed  among 
different  tribes.    Next  morning  the  Indians  burnt  the  fort,  m 


lilbTORY  OF  THK  WAR. 


19 


which  the  deJ 
IS  placed;  and! 
necessary  sup^l 
i  comforts  for| 
of  200  milies,j^t 
rveS)  could  not' 
itit  of  powder,^ 
ns.  "  A  large! 
It  oiEcers  and! 
;sted  untU  the! 
ets  worn  t6  the| 
:rifice  of  sucb 
ine  to  sustain^ 

id  not  end  here, 
pmy  in  Canads^, 
:  Dearborn,  si- 
ligan,  with  or- 
i  proceed  With'  „ 
;roit,  leaving  it "' 
Y  as  he  thought 
Lt  the  goods  in 
Jd  into  the.  fisrt 
)tain  Wells  ar 
he  hadbrougfit 
escorting  the 
le  goods  in  the 
le  surplus  arms 
quors  were  de-  * 
J  of  them  if  put 

irch  for  Detroit 
md  the  remain 
F captain  Wells; 
higan,  the  lake| 
ht,  distant  about 
les  before  the 
bank)  and  an  ac 
giving  ti^  gar 
;ht  soldiers,  tw 
the  Indians  hai\' 
ts  and  baggage 
risi^^fie^    Xhe< 


[arried  oft*  their  prisoners,     'the  number  of  Indian  warriors  in 
e  action  was  between  four  and  five  hundred;  their  loss  about 
fteen.  Captain  Heald  and  his  lady  were  carried  to  the  mouth 
the  river  St.  Joseph,  and  being  both  badly  woundod,  were 
iermitted  to  reside  there  with  an  Indian  trader,  whence  they 
(ok  an  opportunity  of  going  to  Michillimackinac,  where  the 
Faptam  surrendered  himself  to  the  British  as  a  pnsonerof 
ar.     A  lieutenant,  tM'enty-five  non-commissioned  officers  and 
[pldiers,  and  eleven  women  and  children,  were  prisoners  when 
le  captain  separated  from  them.  . 

By  the  disastrous  issue  of  this  unfortunate  expedition  of  ge- 
icral  Hull,  besides  the  loss  of  men  and  arms  at  Detroit,  a 
eak  frontier  of  vast  extent  was  exposed  to  the  brutality  of 
idian  warfare,  which  continued  for  twelve  months  to  harass 
[le  western  settlements,  and  the  territory  of  Michigan  was  oc- 
pied  as  a  British  province. 

From  the  disastrous  scenes  which  followed  the  first  efforts 
our  arms  in  the  north-west,  we  turn  with  pleasure  to  record 
e  glorious  events  that  have  taken  place  on  the  ocean.  There 
air  gallant  tars,  strong  in  spirit,  though  weak  in  number,  in 
[espite  of  the  thousand  ships  of  the  self-styled  mistress  of  the 
an,  have  triumphantly  borne  the  flag  of  America  through 
ery  sea,  from  the  rude  and  inclement  shores  of  Greenland, 
the  rich  and  temperate  regions  of  Chili  and  Peru.  The 
lemy,  with  his  immense  disparity  of  force,  has  to  boast  of 
t  few  triumphs  over  us,  whilst  we  can  claim  more  thao  w© 
,ve  ships. 

But  the  courage  of  our  tars,  though  it  has  achieved  victories 
hich  have  thrown  a  halo  of  glory  around  our  little  navy,  forms 
no  means  the  most  conspicuous  or  lovely  trait  in  their  cha- 
icter.     Their  modesty  and  disinterestedness,  their  humanity 
liberality  to  the  conquered,  have  been  such  as  uniformly  to 
tort  the  grateful  acknowledgments  of  the  enemy  that  they 
ive  thus  doubly  vanquished,  and  have  convinced  the  world, 
at  the  character  of  bravery  which  they  have  acquired,   does 
jpt  rest  merely  on  the  exertion  of  physical  strength  and  tech- 
xa^  skill. 

I .  has  the  naval  glory  of  America  suffered  by  the  few  re- 
uses that  have  taken  place.  On  no  occasion  has  its  honour 
en  in  the  ^lighte^i^gree  tarnishetJ,  it  has  been  equally  sus- 
ined  in  defeat  as  in  victory;  and  the  clouds  of  adversity  have 
rved  but  to  display  its  character  in  a  nej  light,  and  to  shew 
at  it  is  adequate  to  every  emergency. 

These  remarks  do  not  solely  apply  to  national  vessels.  The 
►iXMUanders  aud  crews  of  our  privateers  have  not  been  out- 


2Q  HISTORY  OF  TlfE  WAR. 

priae* 


*  We  are  favoured  nvith  the  following  anecdote  by- a  gentle- 
rnanZr^Zlrt^resentwhen  the  circumstance  related  tookp-^\ 
ThZZJ^been  cafttured  by  the  British  squadron  in  a  merchahtl 

'"'/;  Julu  1812,  thefirivateer  Dolfihin,  cafitain  Endicot,  ofSa.^ 
tem'Z.  cafttured  by  a  British  sguadron  ^f^^/^J^^XZ 
BrokT  and   he  cahtain  and  crenv  nvere  fiut  on  board  the  Eolus, 
fold  James  ToLsend.     E.i4icot.  during  the  short  sfiace  ^ 
time  tZ  had  elafised  from  the  declaration  of  nvar  to  his  cafi-^i 
ures  had  take^ fifteen  vessels,  and  by  his  enterfirize,  act^UyS 
and  courage,  hfd  excited  a  considerable  degree  ofasfieHtM 
again  rZ  in  the  minds  of  the  officers  of  the  ^^.^royM 
had  almost  daily  heard  of  his  exploits.     On  the  ^rriv<iloftl4 
crLon  board  the  Eolus,  they  nvere  treated  nvtth  much  h^g^. 
nesl  and  suffered  some  indignities.     Cafitain  Endicot,  m  tiatti- 
cuTarXas%Lted  nvith  such  haughty  reserve,  that  for  several 
days  not  a  word  was  exchanged  with  Mm.  .    . 

This  treatment,  however,  was  but  of  short  duration.  On. 
board  the  Doltihi^  the  Bntish  found  more  of  their  own  country. 
Te^ prisoners  than  there  were  men  in  '^^/^^j^^^^';' ?;.^;;/,^ 
amining  them,  they  were  equally  surprised  and  ^ortjfiedtoh'"^, 
the  conduct  of  the  Americans  spoken  of  in  the  htgjieat  terms  oj 
approbation,  to  find  that  every  thing  had  been  doneAo  rend^ 
their  situation  comfortable,  and  that  all  on  board  had  shard 
Zallyin  every  luxury  that  the  vessel  afforded     f^J^^d^ 

discovered  that  in  a  former  cruize  ^^^'"'^'^'''^ '''^'''Ztl 

Nova  Scotia  a  vessel  in  which  there  was  an  old  ^omanfiassen-. 

ster,  who  had  800  dollars  in  cash  on  board,  and  who  «/'^^«™  'J 

great  distress  at  the  prospect  of  losing  /^er  property. ^  EnjUco^ 

had  with  difficulty  soothed  her,  as  she  could  '^^''^^^  *^f  !^*"^'=^" 

that  her  little  all  was  not  irrecoverably  gone.     ^^^  f  ^J  f « 

hearing  of  the  woman^s  fiars,  unanimousim  declared  'Aa'  «o/J 

cent  c^it  should  be^touched.     In  the  warmth  of  hergratitu^ 

for  this  liberality,  Wie  made  the  circumsian€€r.uui«;iv--^^- 

through  the  newspapers  on  her  arrival  in  the  United  States.  ^ 

The  Brituh  officers  ashamed  now  of  their  past  conduct,  am 

mortified  at  being  outd^e  in  magnanimity  by  a  prrvateersmank 


It  lb  I  OK  Y  OF  THE  WAR^ 


81 


A  licw  days  previous  to  the  declaration  of  war  the  frrgdtcs 

fnited  States  andConv^ress,  and  the  brig  Argus,  received  or- 

lers  to  rendezvous  off  Sandy  Hook.     On  their  arrival  there 

the  2 1st  of  June,  they  were  joined  by  the  brig  Hornet  and  the 

•resident,   from   New  York,  and  the  same  day  commodore 

todgers  who  commanded  the  squadron,  having  received  offi- 

S:ial  intelligence  of  the  declaration  of  war,  they  put  to  sea  in 

Search  of  a  British   convoy  which  had  sailed  from  Jamaica  ill 

le  preceding  month.     The  following  night  information  was 

Received   of  the  convoy  from  an  American  brig,  which  had 

lassed  them  four  days  before,  and  the  squadrjot)  crowded  all 

fail  in  pursuit.  / 

Next  morning,  however,  their  course  was  altered  by  the  ap- 

jarancc  of  the  British  frigate  Belvidera,  to  which  they  im- 

lediately  gave  chase.    The  pursuit  continued  from  six  in  the 

Horning  until  half  past  four  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  commo- 

»re's  ship  the   President,  having  got  within  gufn  shot,  com- 

lienced  a  fire  with  the  bow  chase  guns,  at  the  spai*S  and  rig- 

png'  of  the  Belvidera,   in  hopes  of  crippling  the  one  or  the 

ther  so  far  as  to  enable  them  to  get  along  side.     ITie  Belvi- 

ifa  returned  the  hre  of  the  President  with  her  stern  guns, 

id  the  firing  was  kept  up  without  intermission  for  about  ten 

inutes,  when  one  of  the  President's  chase  gdns  burst,  by 

lich  unfortunate  accident  sixteen  men  were  killed  and  woun- 

^d;  among  the  wounded  was  commodore  Rodgers,  who  had 

leg  fractured.     By  the  bursting  of  the  gun,  and  the  explo- 

m  of  the  passing  box,  from  which  it  was  served  with  pow- 

jir,  both  the  main  and  forecastle  decks  were  so  much  shat- 

red  as  to  prevent  the  use  of  a  chase  gun   on  that  side  for 

ine  time.     Orders  were  therefore   given  to  veer  the  ship 

a  broadside  was  fired  in  the  hope  of  disabling  the  spars  of 

enemy.  This,  however,  did  not  succeed;  but  considerable 

image  was  done  to  the  rigging  and  the  stern.     The  utmost 

tertion  was  now  used  on  board  the  Presideiit,  by  wetting  the 


anged.  their  conduct  towards  Endicot^  and  invited  him  to  mesa 

the  gun  room,  where  his  frank,  manly  behaviour  quickly  sc" 

ed  him  in  their  highest  resfiecf.  In  sfiedktng  o/firhmteers  he 

arked  to  the  British  officers,  that  they  were  under  the  same 

ulations  ar  national  vesseh,  and  that  Jlmtrican  pfivdteeriiig 


*!.. 


isidifted  in  the  United  States  as  a  national  mode  of  carrying 
the  war,  and  hastening  peace,  by  ofterating  &n  th&'ieiemuin 
mwit  vulnerable  fioint. 

C 


o  r» 


HIS'.     KYOFTHEWAK. 


..Us,  &c.  to  «aia  ground  of  her  opponent  but  ^^^^^^^^^ 
A  constant  firing  was  kept  up  on  both  «^^*^«%^*^,^^^'^^Xr^^^ 
times  Kivinjr  broadsides,  until  about  seven  o  clock,  when  the 
BTlvidrra  havTuK  cut  away  her  anchors,  started  a  rmmber  of 
^:t:r'ca:i!::in:f  thrown  Overboard  her  ^^^f^^^y^ 
vhat  could  be  spared,  began  to  S#"  gj;«""^»  ";  ^ 
the  reach  of  the  President's  shot.     T^     chase,  ftowcyer,  was 
conSed  with  all  the  sail  our  squadron  could  set,  untU  a^^^^^^^^ 
half  past  eleven,  when  it  was  S^v^^  «p  as  hopeles^^^^ 
able  iniuiT  was  done  to  both  vessels  m  this  action.     Une  ot 
tl^Vrs  shots  fired  by  the  President  killed  one  man  alid  wound- 
cd  six;  the  captain  was  severely  wouiided  in  the  thigh  by  the 
breaking  of  the  breeching  of  a  carronade.     On  boaM  the  Pre- 
sident "here  were  three  killed  and  nineteen  wounded,  the  grca- 
icr  part  by  the  bur^^ting  of  the  gun. 

The  sciuadron  now  i-esumed  their  course  m   pursuit  of  the 
ron^^'y  tC  Janiaica,  but  did  not  receive  further  inteHigence 
of  it  until  the  29th  of  June,  when  an  A^^f  i<^f  ^f^h^^^^^^.^J 
spoken  on  the  western  edge  of  the  banks  of  Newfoundland, 
Sat  had  passed  them  two  days  before.  On  the  1st  of  July  t^ey 
fell  iu  with  quantities  of  coCoa-nut  shells,  orange  peels,  8cc. 
which  indicate  that  the  convoy  were  not  ^^.^Jftant.   _On  the 
9th  they  captured  the  British  privateer  Dolphm,  which    had 
passed  the  convoy  the  preceding  evening.     The  pursuit  jwas 
Sinued,but  with,  f  .^.ccess,  until  the   »3tM-  squadron 
beiiigthen  within  ciiriite ',n  or  twenty  hours  sail  of  the  Uritish 

%Zm  this  they  steered  for  the  island  of  Madeira,  and  thence 
nassins  the  Azores  stood  for  Newfoundland,  and  from  the  lat- 
ter  place  by  the  way  of  cape  Sable  to  Boston,  where  they  ar- 
rived on  the  3 1st  of  August. 

During  a  great  part  of  this  cruize  the  weather  was  such  as 
to  obscure  every  distant  object:  for  several  days  the  fog  was  so 
thick  as  to  prevent  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  from  seemg 
each  other,  even  at  cable's  length  asunder;  m  consequence  of 
V'hich  although  they  chased  every  vessel  they  saw,  and  brought 
to  eveiy  thill  they  chased,  with  the  exception  of  four  vessels 
^they    made    only  se^en  captures   and  one  recapture.     The 
cruize,  however,'  was  not  barren  of  benefit  to  the  country    as 
the  knowledge  of  the  squadron's  being  at  sea  obhged  the  ene- 
tny  to   concentrate  a  considerable  portion   of  his  most  acUve 
force,  and  thereby  prevenieu  uia  cai.iurujg  a  '"-b;-  --^^-""^^v  :r 
American  property  that  would  otherwise  have  fallen  a  sacri- 
iice     The  vessels  that  escaped  were,  the  Belvidera,  anothci 
Brilish  frigate,  by  night,  and  two  American  x>rivateers. 


HISIORY  OF  TUB  WAlt. 


23 


The  Copstitution  frigate,  under    the  commaiul  of  captain 
Hull,  had  received  orders  to  join  the  squadron,  and  for  that  pur- 
pose sailed  from  Annapolis  on  the  5th  of  July.     On  the  »7lli, 
off  Ekr  Harbour,  four  ^hips,  apparently  of  war,  were  disco- 
vered from  the  mast-head  to  t lie  northward,  and  m  shore  of  the 
Constitution,  and,  in  the  belief  that  it  was  the  American  squad- 
ron waiting  her  arrival,  all   sail  was  made  in  chase  of  them. 
At  four  in  the  afternoon  another  ship  was  seen  from  the  mast 
head,  to  the  north-east,  standing  for  the  Constitution  with  all 
sail  set,  the  wind  at  this  time  being  very  light,  which  course 
she  continued  till  sun-set,  but  was  still  too  far  off  lo  distmgmsh 
signals.     At  ten  in  the  evening,  being  then  withm  six  or  eight 
miles  of  the  strange  sail,  the  private  signal  was  made  by  the 
Constitution,  and  kept  up  nearly  an  hour;  it  not  bcmg  answer- 
ed, it  was  concluded  that  she  and  the  ships  in  shore  were  ene- 
my's vessels.     Captain  Hull  immediately  laid  his  vessel  in  the 
same  course  with  the  others,  having  determined  to  lie  off  till 
day-light  to  see  what  they  were.  ^ 

Next  morning,  about  day-light,  two  frigates  were  seen  from 
the  Constitution,  under  her  lee,  one  frigate  fouror  five  miles, 
and  a  line  of  battle  ship,  a  frigate,  a  brig,  and  a  schooner  ten 
or  twelve  miles  directly  astern,  all  in  chase,  and  coming  up  fast, 
they  having  a  fine  breeze,  and  it  being  nearly  calm  where  the 
Constitution  was.  After  sunrise,  finding  there  was  but  little 
chance  for  escape,  being  then  within  five  miles  of  three  heavy 
frigates,  the  Constitution  was  cleared  for  action,  and  two  guns 
were  run  out  at  the  cabin  windows,  and  two  at  the  ports  on  the 
quarter  deck.  At  eight,  four  of  the  ships  were  i  e^rly  within 
gun-shot,  some  of  them  having  six  or  eight  boats  ahead  tow- 
ing, with  all  their  oars  and  sweeps  out. 

In  this  perilous  situation,  a  new  expedient  was  determined 
on,  which  was  the  happy  means  of  saving  the  vessel.     Being 
in  only  twenty-four  fathoms  water,  boats  were  sent  out  ahead 
with  anchors,  and  the  ship  warped  up  to  them,  by  which  they 
soon  began  to  get  ahead  of  the  enemy.  They,  however,  adopt- 
ed the  same  plan,  and  all  the  boats  from  the  furthermost  shi{)s 
were  sent  to  assist  those  nearest.    For  two  days   and  nights 
were  they   chased  by  the   squadron,   sometimes   with   hght 
winds,  at  others  warping,  and  towing  in  a  calm,  seldom  much 
beyond  gun-shot  distan  e.     On  the  morning  of  the  20th  only 
three  of  the  squadron  could  be  seen  from  the  mast-head,  the 
nearest  about  12  miles  distant  directly  astern.     Having  nbw 
alight  breeze,  ail  hands  were  ciiipioycu  in  wettiug  the  saila 
from  the  royals  down,  and  the  enemy  were  soon  left  far  behind. 
The  Constitution,  not  being  able  to  find  the  Uflited  States 


24 


HISiOUY    OF    THE  VVAH. 


squadron,  now  bore  away  for  Boston,  where  she  Shortly  aftei' 
arrived.  >^   * 

On  *he  2d  of  September  the  Coiistittition  again  put  to  sea, 
and  on  the  »9ih  avei^sel  was  diseovered  and  cliased,  which  at 
half-past  3  P.  M.  was  made  out  to  be  a  frigate.     The  ship  was 
immediately  cleartftl  for  action,  and  the  chase,. whichpi-oved 
to  be  the  GueiTiere,  backvd  her  main  top-sail,  waiting  tor  her 
to  come  down.     As  soon  as  the  Constitution  was  ready  she 
bore  4&ifn  with  the  intention  of  immediately  coming  tr.  close 
actidh}  but  on  approaching  within  gun-shot,  the  Guerriere  gave 
a  broadside,  atid  filled  away  and  wore,  giving  a  broadside  on 
the  otber  tack,  but  without  effect,  her  shot  falling  short.  Both 
vessels  continued  to  manoeuvre  for  three  quarters  of  an  hour, 
tbe  Guerriere  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  a  raking  position,  the 
Constitution  for  the  purpose  of  closing  and  avoiding  being 
raked.    At  last  they  closed  and  kept  up  a  heavy  fire  for  six- 
teen minutes,  when  the  mizen-mast  of  the  Guerriei-e  fell  over- 
board, and  brought  the  ship  up  in  the  wind,  which  enabled  the 
Constitution  to  take  a  raking  position,  and  to  sweep  her  ene- 
my's deck  by  her  grape-shot  and  musquetry.    The  fire  was 
kept  up  with  equal  warmth  for  fifteen  minutes  longer,  wher\, 
by  the  falling  of  the  Guffriere's  main  and  fore-mast,  she  ^€^i»e 
an  unmanageable  wreck.     On  seeing  this  the   Gon&t;^uti.on 
ceased  firing,  but  shortly  after,  prceivin^  the  colours  still  fly- 
ing, she  took  a  raking  position  within  pistol  shot,  w^ep.  they 
we're  immediately  hauled  down. 

Early  next  morning  a  sail  was  discovered  and  all  was  got 
ready  for  action,  but  she  shortly  after  stood  off  again.  At  day- 
light the  lieutenant  on  board  the  prize  hailed  the  Constitution, 
and  informed  that  she  was  in  a  sinking  condition,  and  had 
four  feet  water  in  her  hold.  Accordingly  the  prisoners  were 
removed,  an4at  3  £.  M.  she  was  set  on  pre,  and  shortly  after 
blew  up.        /V  ,^  ^-^ V  V  fv.  -.V ^ ,  .-^^■i. 

Captain  Hull  in  his  official  letter  states,  that  all  his  crew 
fought  with  the  utmost  bravery:  from  the  smallest  boy  in  the 
ship  to  the  oldest  seamen,  net  a  look  of  fear  was  seen.  They 
all  went  intoac  >n  giving  three  cheers,  and  requesting  to  be 
laid  close  along  side  of  the  enemy.  Their  humanity  was 
equal  to  their  bravery.  Captain  Dacres  in  his  official  letter, 
confesses  their  conduct  to  have  been  « that  of  a  brave  enemy; 
the  greatest  care  being  taken  to  prevent  the  men  losing  the 
slightest  article,  and  the  greatest  attention  being  paid  to  the 
>*o\jnded.'*  , .,,  ^     . 


^^   xl 


On  boaru  uievuiiRiii*'^*'*^"  •■*'*' '*^  »»viv.  ov»«' 


1^^ 


wouoded}  onboard  the  Guerriere  fifteen  w«ro  killed;  and  siK- 


lortly  aftes' 

put  to  sea, 
d,  which  at 
le  ship  was 
hiich  pit>ved 
iting  ior  her 
i  ready  she 
ing  tf»  close 
5rriere  gave 
roadside  on 
short.  Both 
of  an  hour, 
position,  the 
tiding  being- 
fire  for  six- 
1*6  fell  over- 
enabled  the 
sp  her  ene- 
'he  fire  wa*s 
nger,  wher\i 
,she^€£^me 
GGnst.ituti.on 
mrs  still  fly- 
j  w%^||  they 

all  was  got 
ain.  At  d<iy- 
Constitution, 
Lon,  and  had 
soners;  were 
shortly  after 

ail  ^»*s  crew 
it  ijoy  in  the 
seen.  They 
testing  to  be 
amMiity  was 
>fficial  letter, 
irave  enemy; 
en  losing  the 
5  paid  to  the 


t^^^m^A 


a^kkfon 


lied;  and  six- 


i 
I 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


2.) 


ty  three  wounded,  and  twenty-four  missing;  the  latter  were 
stated  by  one  of  the  officers  to  be  away  in  prizes. 

The  Constitution  rated  44  guns  and  carried  56;  her  complex 
ment  of  taen  is  450.  The  Guerriere  rated  38  gu»s  and  car- 
ried 49,  the  odd  gun  shifting,  wluch  makes  it  equal  to  two; 
she  had  on  board  about  300  men.  - 

Meantime  the  othei*  vessels  of  our  little  navy  were  not  idle. 
The  Essex  sailed  from  New  York  on  the  3d  of  July,  and  shoit- 
ly  after  fell  in  with  a  fleet  of  transports,  imder  convoy  of  a  fri- 
gate and  two  bomb  ketches,  from  Jamaica  for  Halifax,  wilii 
troops.  The  Essex  kept  at  a  distance  until  night,  when  she 
cut  off  a  brig  with  150  soldiers  on  board,  which  was  ransomed 
for  a  bill  of  exchange  on  London  tor  14,000  dollars.  The 
men  weire  disarmed,  an  exchange  receipt  taken  for  then,  and 
they  severally  took  an  oath  not  to  serve  till  exchanged.  Cap- 
tain Porter,  in  his  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  lamented 
that  he  had  not  with  him  a  sloop  of  war,  that  the  chips  of  the 
convoy  might  have  been  kept  in  play  while  he  engaged  the 
frigate.  "  Had  this  been  the  case,"  says  he,  «  instead  of  tak- 
ing only  200  prisoners,  I  have  not  a  doubt  that  we  should  have 
made  prisoners  of  the  whole  of  the  troops,  as  well  as  the  fri- 
gates* and  transports*  crews,  which  would  have  exceeded  2000 
men." 

The  following  day  the  Essex  captured  the  brig  Lamprey, 
from  Jamaica.  Intelligence  was  received  from  her  that  the 
Thetis  frigate,  with  specie  and  a  large  convoy  for  England,  was 
to  have  sailed  about  the  26th  of  June,  and  that  several  running 
ships  were  on  the  departure.  Every  exertion  was  therefore 
made  to  get  off  St.  Augustine  in  time  to  fall  in  with  them,  but 
without  effect,  as  fresh  gales  prevailed  from  the  south-west, 
which  increased  until  the  19th  of  July,  when,  by  the  violence 
of  the  tempest,  they  were  compelled  to  run  before  the  wind. 

On  the  loth  of  August,  the  Essex  jcaptured  the  Alert  sloop 
of  war,  after  an  action  of  eight  minutes.  The  Alert,  which 
was  said  to  have  been  sent  out  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the 
Hornet,  ran  down  on  the  weather  quarter  of  the  Essex,  and 
gave  three  cheers  at  the  commencement  of  the  action,  ^'^'^hen 
she  struck  her  colours  she  had  only  three  men  wounded,  but 
she  had  seven  feet  water  in  her  hold,  and  was  much  cut  to 
pieces.     The  Essex  received  not  the  slightest  injury. 

Being  much  embarrassed  with  his  prisoners,  who  amounted, 
including  those  of  the  Alert,  to  500^  captain  Porter  concluded 
an  arrangcmen*  with  the  captain  of  the  Alert,  for  despatching 
that  vessel  as  a  cartel  to  carry  the  prisoners  to  a  British  port. 
Her  guns  were  accordingly  thrown  overboard,  and  she  waa  en- 


26 


HlStOHY  OP  THE  WAE. 


f 


trusted  to  the  ctrnimand  of  a  lieutenant  of  the  Essex,  with- 
orders  tO  proceed  to  St.  John's,  Newfoundland.  The  com- 
mander of  the  British  nava!  forces  at  that  place,  in  a.  le^T  to 
the  American  secretary  of  the  navy,  strongly  protests  ai^ainst 
this  practice  of  immediately  despatching  captured  vessels  as 
cartels;  «  nevertheless,  as  a  proof  of  respect  for  the  liberality 
with  which  the  captain  of  the  Essex  has  acted,  in  more  than 
once  instance,  towards  the  British  subjects  who  have  fallen  into 
his  hwids,"  and  through  a  desir©  1 3  fulfil  the  engagements  en- 
tered into  by  a  British  officer,  he  consented  to  the  proposed 
exchange.     The  Alert  is  now  in  the  American  service. 

On  the  afternoon  oC  the  30th  of  August,  a  British  frigate 
^i(wi«  perceived  standing  for  the  Essex  under  a  press  of  sail. — 
Porter  was  instantly  prepared  for  action,  and  stood  towards  the 
frigate,  and  at  the  approach  of  night  a  light  was  hoisted  for  the 
purpose  of 'preventing  a  separation.  At  nine  a  signal  was  madej 
by  the  enemy  consisting  of  two  flashes  and  one  blue  light,  ap- 
parently about  four  miles  distant.  The  Essex  continued  to 
stand  for  the  point  where^the  signal  was  seen  until  midnight, 
when,  not  getting  sight  of  the  onemy,  she  hove  too  until  day- 
light, on  the  presumption  that  the  other  had  done  the  same,  or 
at  least  woOld  keep  in  the  neighbourhood;  but  to  the  surprise 
and  mortification  of  all  on  board,  in  the  morning  the  coast  was 
clear. 

On  the  4tb  6t  September,  off  the  tail  of  St.  George's  bank, 
two  ships  of  war  were  discovered  to  the  southward,  and  a  brig 
TO  the  northward,  the  latter  in  chase  of  an  American  merchant- 
man. The  Essex  gave  chase  to  the  brig,  which  attempted  to 
pats  her  and  join  the  other  two,  but  was  pi«cvented,  and  com- 
pelled to  stand  to  the  north.  She,  however,  escaped,  the  wind 
being  light,  by  means  of  her  fe weeps,  On  the  Essex  showing 
her  Colours  to  the  American  vessel,  the  vesseU  to  the  south- 
ward fired  signal  guns,  and  made  all  sail  in  chase  of  her,  and 
by  4  P.  M.  had  gained  her  wake,  and  were  coming  up  very  fast. 
Calculating  on  escaping  by  some  manoeuvre  in  the  night,  cap- 
tain Porter  hoisted  American  colours  and  fired  a  gun  to  wind- 
ward. The  ships  still  continued  to  gain  on  him,  and  the 
largest  being  considerably  to  windward  of  the  other,  and  only 
five  niiles  astern,  captain  Porter  determined  to  heave  about  as 
soon  as  it  grew  dark,  and,  in  the  event  of  not  being  able  to  pass 
himi  to  fire  a  broadside  and  lay  him  onboartl,  a  resolution  that 
was  received  with  three  cheers  when  proposed  tQ  the  crew. — 
At  30  minutei  pact  seven  she  was  accordingly  hove  about,  but 
saw  no  more  of  the  enemy;  a  circumstance  which  seems  the 
more  extraordinary,  as  a  pistol  was  fired  by  accident  on  boj^rd 


ssex,  with- 
The  com- 
a  letter  to 
sts  against 
;  vessels  as 
e  liberaUty 
more  than 
i  fallen  into 
ements  en- 
3  proposed 
irice. 

ish  frigate 
i  of  sail. — 
owards  the 
it!Bd  for  the 
I  was  mad€j 
3  light,  ap- 
>Qtinued  to 
I  midnight, 
»  until  day- 
le  same,  or 
le  surprise 
3  co^&t  was 


rge's  bank, 
,  and  a  brig 
merchant- 
tempted  to 
,  and  com- 
lI,  the  wind 
IX  showing 
the  south- 
»f  her,  and 
p  very  fast. 
night,  cap- 
un  to  wind- 
n,  and  the 
r,  and  only 
ve  about  as 
ible  to  pass 
olution  that 
he  crew. — 
;  about,  but 
seems  the 
nt  on  board 


.f'^?■ 


I 


* 


i 

in 
J/ 


^ 


HI^IORY  09  THB  WAR. 


SJr 


the  "fe^ex,  at  the  moment  when  she  must  have  been  at  the 
shortest  distance  from  tbem.    On  the  7th  of  September  the  . 
Essex  arrived  in  the  Delaware.  ■ 

On  the  8th  of  October,  the  President  frjgate,  iit  «i»npatiy 
with  the  United  States^  Congress,  and  Argus,  sailed  from  Bos- 
ton on  a  cruize.  On  the  1 3th  the  United  States  iod  Argus 
parted  company  with  the  squadron  in  a  gale  of  wind.  On  the 
1 5th  the  President  and  Congress  captured  the  British  packet 
Swallow,  having  on  board  specie  to  the  amount  flf  nearlf 
200,000  dollars.  On  the  81st  they  captured  a  south  sea  abip, 
loaded  wkh  oil,  one  of  two  ships  under  convoy  of  the  CjSilalea 
frigate,  to  which  they  gave  chase,  but  lost  her  in  a  fog.  l>«^g 
the  remainder  of  this  cruize  they  saw  no  other  British  v^tl 
except  the  frigate  Nyrtiph,  which  escaped  in  the  night-.  Oft 
the  31st  of  December  they  arrived  at  Boston,  having  been  as 
far  to  the  east  as  longitude  22  degrees,  and  to  the  south  as  lati- 
tude 17  degrees  N.,\vhence  whey  ran  down  the  trade  wind  to 
.>0  degrees  W.,  and  on  theFr  return  to  the  north  passed  within 
120  miles  of  Bermuda. 

The  Argus  after  parting  from  the  squadron,  proceeded  to 
the  coast  of  Brazil,  sailed  along  the  north  coast  from  cape  St. 
Roque  to  Surinam,  thence  to  the  windward  of  the  West  In- 
dies, and  thence  in  every  direction  between  the  Bermudas, 
Halifax,  and  the  continent.  After  being  out  96  days  she  arri?-!^ 
ed  at  New  York,  having  made  five  prizes,  valued  at  200,000 
dollars.  During  her  cruize,  she  fell  in  with  a  British  squadron, 
consisting  of  six  sail,  two  of  which  were  of  the  line,  one  of 
them  a  remarkable  fast  sailer.  The  favour  of  the  moon  enabling 
them  to  chase  b^  night  as  well  as  by  day,  the  chase  was  con- 
tinued for  three  days,  without  intermission,  and  under  varipus 
circumstances,  hot  by  unremitted  exertions,  the  Argus  w|| 
enabled  to  elude  the  pursuit.  Pressed  on  all  sides  by  the  num- 
ber of  the  enemy,  and  the  baffling  and  unsettled  state  of  the 
weather,  .she  was  at  one  time  within  musket  shot  of  a  74,  and 
at  another  nearly  surrounded.  While  in  this  pet  ilous  situation 
she  actually  captured  and  manned  one  of  her  prizes. 

The  United  States  was  still  more  fortunate.  On  the  25th  of 
October,  off  the  Western  Islands,  about  two  weeks  after  b#ig 
separated  from  the  squadron,  she  fell  in  with  and  ca^uNd) 
after  an  action  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  the  British  frigate  Mace- 
donian, of  the  same  class  and  strength  with  the  Guerricw.--*' 
The  Macedonian,  beine  to  windward,  had  the  advantage  of 

hoosing  her  distance,  which  was  so  great,  that  for  the  first  half 
hour  the  United  States  could  not  use  her  carronades,  and  at  no 
'ime  were  they  within  musket  or  grape  shot.    To  this  circum- 


2g  HiSTOIlY  Of  THE  WAR.» 

lu.uin^d  byte  ship  was  not  so  much  as  to  render  her  return 

*°-fSl!''^nUed'Sates  arrived  off  New  London  with  herprizc 
Jm  4th  of  December,  and  thepce  proceeaed  through  the 

1^  ^l^^^M^  -s  displayed  by  cc^dore 
n*.ri»tiir  as  on  a  former  occasion  by  captain  Hull.  AH  ttie  pio- 
JeTof  the  off,  "crs  and  men  o/ board  tl«  Macedonian  was 
given  upi  that  claimed  by  captain  Garden  "W=l"d«d  »  band  of 
music  and  several  casks  of  wine,  which  were  valued  at  gSOO, 
nnrt  naid  for  by  the  commodore.  .  . 

WMte  on  this  subject,  we  cannot  forbear  to  mention  an  in- 
stil of  «enerosity  hat  occurred  on  this  occasion  among  the 
fnhZan  seamen  In  the  action  with  the  Macedonian  one  of 
th™enS  "reJ  was  killed,  and  Jeft  three  children  at  the 
m  rcy  of  the  world  and  of  a  worthless  7*er,  «ho  h^d  aban- 
doned  them.  On  the  amval  of  the  two  frigates  at  New  York, 
fKrandfirther  went  on  board  the  United  States  to  claim  the 
nropefty  and  wages  of  his  son,  when  an  enquiry  •  to  the  cir- 
cumstances of  thi  family  took  place  and  a  plan  l^-^S^^f'^V- 
on  by  the  seamen  for  the  relief  of  the  orphans,  by  which  8800 
were  instantly  collected  for  their  maintenance  and  education,  to 
be  nlaced  in  the  hands  of  suitable  trustees  for  the  purpose. 

But  of  aU   he  victories  which  have  been  achieved  by  single 
vessels,  perhaps  the  most  brilliant  is  that  which  it  has  now  be- 
::mro«r  mo^t  pleasing  task  to  record      At  th«  '«»«  f/^^ 
declaration  of  war,  the  Wasp  sloop  of  ''^V"'" J"Xl,er 
captain  Jacob  Jones,  was  on  her  passage  from  E"™P'' *h'tl.ei 
she  had  carried  despatches  to  our  ministers  m  England  and 
France.     She  arrived  in  the  Delaware  a  few  weeks  after  that 
e^„t,*nd  sailed  againon  a  cruise  on  the  'f«h  o^/^f  °^f '•  ;9" 
the  1 6th  she  experienced  a  heavy  gale,  m  which  she  lost  hei   ib- 
boom  and  two  men.    On  the  evening  of  the  following  day, 
.hm.,  eleven  o'clock,  in  a  clear  moon-light  evening,  being  then 
in  the  track  of  vessels  passing  trom  Bermuaa  to  rvaiu»x,  ».... 
found  herself  near  five  strange  sail,  steermg  eastward.    'As 
some  of  them  seemed  to  be  ships  of  war.  It  was  thought  better 
to  get  farther  from  them.    The  Wasp,  therefore,  hauled  her 


I 


icribcd  the 
periority  of 
n  board  the 
,he  also  lost 
n  yard,  and 
lited  States 
the  damage 
p  her  return 

:h  her  prize 
through  the 

commodore 
All  the  pro- 
edonian  was 
ed  a  band  of 
led  at  S800, 

Bntion  an  in- 
n  among  the 
Ionian  one  of 
ildren  at  the 
ho  had  aban- 
X  New  York, 
ft  to  claim  the 

into  the  cir- 
is  agreed  up- 
f  which  gSOO 
education,  to  j 
3  purpose, 
ired  by  single 
t  has  now  be- 
e  time  of  the 
mmanded  by 
rope,  whither 

England  and 
eks  after  that 
October.  On 
le  lost  her  iib- 
ollowing  day, 
ig,  being  then 
3  HaUriiX,  au«i 
stward.  "  As 
thought  beUer 
re,  hauled  her 


vv: 


HlSiOHJf.Of    IHJS  WAU. 


29 


wind,  and  having  reached  a  fewmileatp  windward,  so  asto  es- 
raoe  or  fight  as  the  occasion  might  require  followed  the  strange 
sail  through  the  night.     At  day-brealt  on  Sunday  morning, 
captain  Jopes  foi^d  that  they  were  six  large  merchant  smps, 
under  convoy  ofa  lloop  of  war,  which  proved  to  be  the  Frolic, 
captain  Whinyates,  from  Honduras  to  England  with  a  convoy, 
stronely  armed  and  manned,  having  allforty  or  fifty  f»en,  and 
two  of  them  mounting  sixteen  guns  each.    He  determttied, 
however  to  attack  them,  and,  as  there  was  a  heavy  swell  ot  the 
sea,  and  the  weather  boisterous,  got  down  his  top-gallant  yards, 
close  reefed  the  top-sails,  and  prepared  for  action.     About  11 
o'clock  the  Frolic  showed  Spanish  coloura;  and  th^  Wa*p  m- 
mediately  displayed  the  American  ensign  and  pendant.   At  S2 
minutes  past  11,  the  Wasp  came  down  to  wmA^ard  on  hei^ar- 
board  side,  within  about  sixty  yards,  and  hailed.    Th^  enemy 
hauled  4own  the  Spanish  Qolours,  hoisted  the  British  ensign, 
and  opeped  a  fire  of  cannon  and  musquetry^-this  the  Wasp^n- 
:  stantly  returned:,  and  coming  near  to  the  enf  my,  the  action  be- 
came close  and  without  intermission,   in  four  or  five -minutes 
the  maia-top-mast  of  the  Wasp  wft»  shot  away,  apd  feUmg  down 
with  the  raain-top-swl  yard  across  tb^  larhoai'd  fore  an4  fore- 
top-saJUbi^c^^  rendered  her  headyfpda  H»»»W>»ge.able  ^^unng 
the  r^§t  of  m  action.   In  t wp  op  tbrf#  ffm^m  mpre,  hf  r  gaft 
apfj  iiiizipn-top"g*)lAnt-mast  wwe  ^t  a.way.  ^mm  m^tu^^ 
a  close  a^^constam  fire.  Th^  sea  wa^  so  rougW  that  th^  rau»- 
zies  of  the  Wasp,sfguns  were  frequcpUy  IP  the  water.    J^e 
Wricap%  therefore,  fired  as  the  ship's  side  .vya*  going  dpwn, 
so  th?it  their  shot  w^nt  either  on  the  enemy's  de^J^  pr^elpv  it, 
while  the  ^ngUsh  fired  as  the  vessel  ro>e,  apd  thus  her  balls 
chiefly  touched  the  rigging,  or  were  thrown  away.  The  Wasp 
now  shot  ahea^l^f  the  Frolic,  raking  her,  and  then  resumfc^  her 
positloaww  her  l^rbpardbow.  Her  fire  was  now  obviously  at- 
tended^th  sach  success,  and  that  of  the  FroUc  sP  slackened, 
that  captain  Jones  did  not  wish  to  board  h^r,  lest  the  Koughr 
ness  of  ^e  sea  might  endanger  both  vessels;  byt,  in  the  cou^e 
of  a  few -minutes  more,  every  brace  of  the  Wasp  was  shot 
away,  and  Mr  rigging  so  much  torp  to  pieces,  that  he  was 
afraid  that  feis  masts,  being  unsupported,  would  go  bjR  the 
board,  and  th^  frolic  be  aMe  to  escape-    He  thought,  therje- 
fore,  the  best  chance  of  securing  her  w.  s  to  board,  and  decide 
!  the  contest  at  once.     With  this  view  he  wore  ship,  and  pun- 
ninjr  down  apoo  the  enemy,  the  vesseiU  struck  eac^  other;  the 

o     -        -  •__„•-•  • •  -J.-^  "ks.   T^t-f-.l-^^q  Vtr-ur      "US  *}^^*  nt*v  iih- 

boomcsim^  in  between  the  main  Mid.  mi^op  Wggffigol^thp 
Wasp,  directly  over  the  hMs  oC  q^ptain  l.one%  JIW  .^««  "J^*^^ 


30 


HISTOUY  OF  T»fc  WAR. 


I    ' 


lieutenant,  Mr  Biddle,  who  were,  at  that  moment,   standing 
together  near  the  capstan.    The  Frolic  lay  so  fair  for  rakmj 
that  they  decided  not  to  board  until  they  had  given  a  closingl 
broadside.     Whilst  they  were  loading  for  this,  so  near  weril 
the  two  vessels,  that  the  rammers  of  the  Wasp  were  pushed! 
against  the  Frolic**  sides^  and  two  of  her  guns  went  througli 
'the  bow  ports  of  the  Frolic,  and  swept  the  whole  length  of  hei| 
deck.     At  this  moment  Jack  Lang,*  a  seaman  of  the  Wasp, 
gallant  fellow,  who  had  been  once  impressed  by  a  British  mj 
of  war,  jumped  on  a  gun  with  his  cutlass,  and  was  springing 
on  board  the  Frolic;  captain  Jones  wishing  to  fire  again  beforel 
boarding,  called  him  down;   but  his  impetuosity  could  not  bej 
restrained,  and  he  was  already  on  the  bowsprit  of  the  FrolicJ 
when,  seeing  the  ardour  and  enthusiasm  of  the  Wasp's  crew,! 
lieutenant  Biddle  mounted  on  the  hammock  cloth  to  board.l 
At  this  signal  the  crew  followed,  but  lieutenant  Biddle*s  feetj 
got  entangled  in  the  rigginj^  of  the  enemy's  bowsprit,  and  mid. 
shipman  Baker,  in  his  ardour  to  get  on  board,   laying  hold  ofl 
his  coat,  he  fell  back  on  the  Wasp's  deck.    He  sprang  up,| 
and  as  the  next  swell  of  the  sea  brought  the  Frolic  nearer,   he 
got  on  the  bowsprit,  where  Lang  and  another  seaman   werel 
already.     He  passed  them  on  the  forecastle,  and  was  surpris-l 
ed  at  seeing  not  a  single  man  alive  on  the  Frolic's  deck,  cx-j 
cept  the  seamen  at  the  wheel  and  three  oiKcers.  .  The  deck! 
was  slippery  with  blood,  and  strewed  with  the  bodies  of  the 
dead.  As  he  went  forward,  the  captain  of  the  Frolic,  with  twol 
t)ther  officers,  who  were  standing  on  tht  quarter-deck,  threw] 
down  their  swords,  and  made  an  inclination  of  their  bodies,  de- 
noting that  they  had  surrendered.     At  this  moment  the  co- 
lours were  still  flying,  as  probably  none  of  the  seamen  of  the] 
Frolic  would  dare  to  go  into  the  rigging  for  fear  of  the  mus- 
quetry  of  the  Wasp.    Lieutenant  Biddle,  therefore^ jumped| 
into  the  rigging  himself,  and  hauled  down  the  British  ensign, 
and  possession  was  taken  of  the  Frolic,  in  forty -three  minutes  | 
after  the  firist  fire.  She  was  in  a  shocking  condition;  the  birth- 
deck  particularly  was  crowded  with  dead  and  wounded,  and  I 
dying;  there  being  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  Frolic's  crew 
who  had  escaped.     Captain  Jones  instantly  sent  on  board  his 
surgeon's  mate,  and  all  the  blankets  of  the  Frolic  were  brought 


*  "  John  Lane  i/>  a  native  of  J^ew  JBrunswick  in  Mew-JeT' 
W.      »       *^y'     fVe  mention^  with  great /ileafiure,  the  name  0/ this  brave\ 
I  American  seaman,  as  a  firoof^  that  contt/ircuoua  valour  is  con- 

j    ,         Jined  to  no  rankin  the  naval  serv  ice. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    WAE. 


31 


rtrom  hcT  slop-room  for  the  comfort  of  the  wounded.  To  in- 
Icrease  this  confusion  both  the  Frolic's  masts  soon  fell,  cover- 
ling  the  dead  and  every  thing  on  deck,  and  she  lay  a  complete 

"  It  now  appeared  that  the  Frolic  mounted  sixteen  thirty-two 
pound  carronades,  four  twelve  pounders  on  the  main-deck,  and 
two  twelve  pound  carronades.     She  was  therefore,  superior 
to  the  Wasp,  by  exactly  four  twelve  pounders.     The  number 
of  men  on  board  as  stated  by  the  officers  of  the  Frolic,  was 
one  hundred  and   ten— the  number  of  seamen  on  board  the 
Wasp  was  one  hundred  and  two;  but  it  could  not  be  ascertain- 
ed whether  in  this  one  hundred  and  ten  were  included  marines 
and  officers,  for  the  Wasp  had,  beside  her  one  hundred  and 
two  men,  officers  and  marines,  making  the  whole  crew  about 
one  hundred  and  thirty-five.    What  is  however  descisive,  as  to 
their  comparative  force,  is,  that  the  officers  of  the  Frolic  ac- 
I  knowledged  that  they  had  as  many  men  as  they  knew  what  to 
do  with,  and  in  fact  the  Wasp  could  have  spared  fifteen  men. 
There  was,  therefore,  on  the  most  favourable  view,  at  leatit  an 
equality  of  men;  and  an  inequality  of  four  guns.  The  disparity 
of  loss  was  much  greater.     The  exact  number  of  killed  a  nd 
wounded  on  board  the  Frolic  could  not  be  precisely  determin- 
ed; but  from  the  observations  of  our  officers,  and  the  declara- 
tions of  those  of  the  Frolic,  the  number  could  not  have  been 
less  than  about  thirty  killed,  including  two  officers,  and  of  the 
wounded  between  forty  and  fifty;  the  captain  and  second  lieu- 
tenant being  of  the  number.     The  Wasp  had  five  men  killed 
and  five  slightly  wounded.  v' 

"  All  hand«  were  now  employed  in  clearing  the  deck,  bury- 
ing the  dead,  and  taking  care  of  the  wounded,  when  captain 
Jones  sent  orders  to  lieutenant  Biddle  to  proceed  to  Charles- 
ton, or  any  southern  port  of  the  United  States;  and  as  there 
was  a  suspicious  sail  to  wincTward,  the  Wasp  would  continue 
her  cruize.     The  ships  then  parted.     The  suspicious  sail  M»s 
now  coming  down  very  fast.  At  first  it  was  supposed  that  she 
was  one  of  the  convoy,  who  had  all   iled  during  the  engage- 
ment, and  the  ship  cleared  for  action;  but  the  enemy  as  she 
advanced,  proved  to  be  a  seventy-four — the  Poictiers,  captain 
Beresford.     She  fired  a  shot  over  the  Frolic;  passed  her;  over- 
took the  Wasp,  the  disabled  state  of  whose  rigging  prevented 
her  from  escaping;  and  then  returned  to  the  Frolic,  who  could, 
_f .,«;^f. u«  «^   nx>utc»ar)o<>      Thft  WasD  Olid  Froltc^  wgrc 

carried  into  Bermuda. 

"  It  is  not  the  least  praise  due  to  captain  Jones,  that  his  ac- 
count of  this  gallant  action  is  perfectly  modest  and  unostente- 


32 


MtSTOftY    OF    'I'hE    WAH. 


tious.  On  his  own  share  in  the  capture  it  is  unuecessavy  lo 
add  any  thing  *  The  courage  and  exertions  of  i^e  officers  and 
crew,  he  observes,  »fuUy  answered  my  expectations  and  wish- 
es. Lieutenant  Biddie's  active  conduct  contributed  much  to 
our  success,  by  the  exact  attention  paid  to  every  department 
during  the  engagement,  and  the  animating  example  he  afford- 
ed the  erew  by  his  intrepidity.  Lieutenants  Rodgers  and  Bo6th 
and  Mr.  Rapp,  showed,  by  the  incessant  fire  from  their  divi- 
sions, that  they  we  ^e  not  to  be  surpassed  in  resolution  Or  skill. 
Mr.  Knight,  and  every  other  oflScer,  acted  With  a  courage  and 
promtitltude  highly  honourable.  Lieutenant  Claxton,  who  was 
confined  by  sickness,  left  hi»  bed  a  little  previous  to  the  en- 
gagement; and  though  too  weak  to  be  at  his  division  reniained 
upon  deck,  aiid  showed  by  his  composed  manner  of  noting  its 
incidents,  that  we  had  lost  by  his  illr.ess  the  service  of  a  brave 
offic6r.' *'•  ,   »    '     -, 

Meanwhile  the  utmost  exertk>nswfefe  used  on  the  lakes,  in 
order  to  retrieve  the  disasters  occasioned  by  the  surrenoer  of 
the  force  under  general  Hull  When  that  event  took  place, 
there  was  only  one  vessel  of  war  owned  by  government  on 
these  waters,  the  brig  Oneida,  of  16  guns,  on  lake  Ontario, 
commanded  by  lieutenant  Woolsey.  In  the  beginning  of  Oc- 
tober, commodore  Chauncey  arrived  at  Sackett**  Harbour  with 
a  body  of  seamen,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  command,  and 
several  schooners  which  had  been  employed  as  traders  on  the 
lake  were  instantly  purchased  and  fitted  out  as  vessels  of  war, 
.  and  lieutenant  ElHot  was  despatched  to  lake  Erie  to  make  ar- 
rangements there  for  building  a  naval  force  superior  to  that  of 
the  enemy.  Elliot  had  no!  been  many  day^  at  Black  Rock,  be- 
lore  an  opportunity  offered  for  a  display  of  the  most  determin- 
ed courage.  «««.., 
On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  October,  two  armed  British 
vessels  the  brig  Detroit,  late  the  United  States  brig  Adams, 
and  the  brig  Caledonia,  came  down  the  lake  from  Maiden,  and 
anchored  under  the  guns  of  fort  Erie,  which  is  situated  nearly 
opposite,  and  within  a  few  miles  of  Black  Rock,  on  the  Nia- 
gara, near  where  it  leaves  the  lake.  Elliot  instantly  deterndn- 
ed  to  make  an  attack,  and  if  possible  get  possession  of  them; 
and  accordingly  despatched  an  express  to  hasten  the  arnval  of 
some  sailors  who  were  hourly  expected.  The  sailors  arrived 
about  12  o'clock,  50  '  t  number.  Though  wearied  with  a 
march  of  500  miles,  they  were  only  allowed  till  midnight  to  re- 


l»ll.>ll 


♦  Port  Folio. 


HISTOHY   Ut    i'HE  WAR. 


iJ3 


I 


iresh  themselves,  when,  being  reinforced  by  50  of  the  regulai 
and  forces,  they  put  off  from  the  mouth  of  Buffaloe  creek  in 
mo  boats,  with  lieutenant  Elliot  at  their  head.    Haying  rowed 
into  the  lake  above  the  vessels,  they  drifted  down  with  the  cur- 
rent till  they  were  hailed  by  a  centinel  on  board  one  of  them, 
when  they  instantly  sprang  to  their  oars,  and  closing  m  upon 
The  vessels,  they  jumped  on  board,  drove  the  British  below, 
and  in  ten  minutes  from  their  getting  along  Side,  the  prisoners 
were  all  secured,  the  topsa.is  sheeted  home,  and  the  vessels 
under  way.     Unfortunate? y  the  wind  was  not  sufficiently  strong 
to  carry  them  up  against  a  strong  current  into  the  lake,  and 
both  ran  aground.    The  Caledonia,  however,  was  beached  pn^ 
der  the  protection  of  one  of  the  batteries  at  Black  Rock,  but 
the  Detroit  lay  near  the  head  of  an  island  m  the  middle  of  Nia- 
eara  river,  exposed  to  the  batteries  ar»d  flymg  artillery  of  the 
enemy.     The  Americans  returned  their  fire  from  the  Detroiij 
but  finding  they  could  not  bring  the  guns  to  bear  with  advan- 
tage, the  prisoners  were  all  got  on  shore,  and  the  brig  was  de- 
serted    In  the  course  of  the  day  several  unsuccessful  at- 
tempts were  made  by  the  British  to  board  and  destroy  the  mi- 
litary  stores  in  the  Detroit;  but  a  considerable  portion  ot  ihem 
was  secured  by  the  Americans,  after  which  she  was  set  on  hrc 

und  abandoned. 

The  Caledonia  belonged  to  the  N.  W.  Company,  and  was 
loaded  with  peltry,  which  was  estimated  at  150,000  dollars. 
The  Detroit  was  a  government  vessel,  which  was  captured  ai 
Detroit.  She  was  laden  with  military  stores,  and  had  on  board 
sixty  men  and  thirty  American  prisoners.  rShe  mounted  six 
Q-uns.  The  Caledonia  mounted  two  guns,  and  shi^  had  1 2  men, 
and  10  prisoners  on  board.  The  loss  of  the  Americians  in  tluf, 
ffallant  exploit  w^s  only  two  killed  and  four  wounded.  -^;v 

The  force  stationed  on  tfie  Niagara  fontier  consisted  of  aboiu 
5000  men,  of  whom  the  majority  were  miiitia,  under  the  com- 
mand of  general  Van  Rensselaer.    The  ardour  of  the  troop; 
having  been  very  much  excited  by  the  successful  issue  ol  tiif. 
enterprize  of  lieutenant  Elliot,  an  invasion  of  Canada  was  dc- 
termined  on,  tfnd  accordingly,  on  the  morning  of  the  13th  ot 
October,  the  troops  at  Fort  Niagara  and  Graiwl  Niagara,  hav- 
ing been  marched  to  Lewistown  the  preceding  evening,  the 
soldiers  began  to  embark  at  the  dawn  of  day,  under  cover  of  a^ 
battery  mounting  two  18  pounders  and  two  sixes.        .    *  > 

To  accomplish  their  landing  on  the  opposite  shore,  thcy  had 
onlv  12  boats,  each  capable  of  conveying  20  men.    The  move- 

'      .     .  ..    _         1  .__,  ^t- -   ----- -  u_:_i.  c.^^  j»f  .«»..,„ 

nieut  being  SOUfl  u»&*/OVei«;w  wy   i»«v  v^iviuy,  a  anxin  a;-  vi  iis«;i 

'  "'        '      ^bole  line  of  the  C^ada  shore. 


Muetry  was  poui 


rom 

'■r 


0 


;-i4 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAK. 


iiided  by  three  batteries.  In  the  face  of  this  tremendous  fipe 
the  first  landing  was  eftected  by  only  100  men,  who  were  form* 
cd  in  a  masterly  manner  by  colonel  Van  Ransselaer,  and  soon 
succeeded  in  gaining  the  heights,  and  reinforcements  arriv- 
ing,  the  forts  were  stormed,  and  the  enemy  driven  down  the 
liiil  in  every  direction.  Having  received  a  reinforcement  of 
severul  hundred  Indians,  however,  the  British  shortly  alter  re- 
commenced a  furious  attack  upon  our  troops,  but  they  were 
(juickly  repulsed,  and  driven  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet. 

Av  this  interesting  crisis,  when  the  victory  was  already 
achieved  by  a  handful  of  troops,  the  ardour  of  the  militia,  most 
of  M-honi  were  still  on  the  American  side,  suddenly  abated. 
Either  dismayed  by  the  yells  of  the  Indians,  or  by  the  appear- 
ance <rt"  ix'inforcemc.is  which  were  seen  marching  from  Fort 
George,  they  began  to  raise  constitutional  objections  against 
crossing  the  lines,  and  at  last  absolutely  refused  to  embark. 
Finding  it  impracticable  to  obtain  th«  necessary  reinforce- 
ments, the  general  ordered  a  retreat;  but  unfortunately  the 
boats  were  dispersed,  and  many  of  the  boatmen  had  fled,  panic 
struck.  Tins  little  band  of  heroes  were  consequently  aban- 
doned to  their  fate,  and  after  a  severe  conflict  with  a  very  un- 
equal force,  they  were  under  the  necessity  of  surrendering. 
The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  battle  is  variously  stated, 
"but  is  believed  not  to  have  exceeded  1000  in  killed,  wounded, 
and  prisoners,  of  whom  perhaps  more  than  one  half  were  re- 
gulars. The  loss  of  the  enemy  is  not  known,  but  must  have 
been  considerable,  as  they  were  twice  repulsed  and  driven 
down  the  heights.  General  Brock,  who  commanded,  was  kill- 
ed, and  his  aid-de-camp  mortally  wounded. 

General  Van  Rensselaer  shortly  after  this  affair  resigned 
his  command,  which  devolved  on  general  Smyth,  who,  towards 
the  end  of  November,  projected  another  expedition,  which 
was  to  have  sailed  from  Buttaloe,  at  the  head  of  the  Niagara 
river.  This  expedition  failed  from  the  same  cause  which 
brought  about  the  disaster  at  Queenstown,  the  refusal  of  the 
militia  to  ci'oss  the  lines.  ;  i^ 

Krc^mratory  to  the  intended  invasion,  two  psNliea  were  sent 
over,  the  one  for  the  purpose  of  capturing  a  guard  d  destroy- 
ing a  bridge,  below  fort  Erie,  the  other  to  spike  the  cannon  b 
the  enemy's  batteries  and  some  light  artillery  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood. The  first  party  made  some  prisoners,  but  failed 
to  destroy  the  bridge.  The  second,  after  i*endering  unservice- 
able the  liRht  artillery,  separated  by  some  misapprehension, 
and  a  p^rt  of  them  returned  with  the  boats,  leaving  behind 
f  nir  of&cerf!,  and  60  men.     This  small  body,  however,  advan- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAK. 


35 


B  were  sent 


ced  to  the  batteries,  attacked  and  took  two  of  them  in  succes- 
sion, spiked  the  cannon,"  and  took  a  nunaber  of  prisoners. 
They  then  retreated  down  the  Niagara,  where  they  found  two 
boats,  on  board  of  which  thirty  of  the  privates,  three  officers, 
and  all  the  prisoners  embarked,  leaving  behind  a  captain  and 
30  men,  who  were  captured  by  the  British  before  the  boats 
could  return. 

Meanwhile,  as  soon  as  day  began  to  appear,  alJ  the  ti'oops  in 
the  neighbourhood  were  mai*ched  to  the  place  of  embarkation. 
A  part  of  the  detachment  which  had  passed  tfl  the  ojypositc 
shore  having  now  returned  and  excited  apprehensions  for  the 
residue,  about  350  men  under  colonel  Winder  put  off  in  bo«is 
for  their  relief,  and  a  part  of  this  f6i*ce  had  landed;  when  a  sUr 
perior  force  with  a  piece  of  artillery  appealed.  A  retreat  was 
then  ordered,  which  was  effected  with  a  loss  of  six  killed  and 
twenty-two  wounded. 

The  general  embarkation  noMr  commenced;  but  there  not  bf - 
ing  a  greater  number  of  boats  than  would  hold  1500  men,  a 
council  of  officers  was  held,  at  vyrbijch  it  was  determined,  that 
as  positive  orders  had  been  received  not  to  cross  with  less  thai) 
3000  men,  it  was  inexpedient  to  make  the  attempt  umil  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  boats  could  be  prckjured  for  the  whole  nuta- 
her  to  embark  at  once;  dependence  behig  still  placed  on  the 
volunteering  of  the  militia,  it  \yas  thought  that  the  actual  num- 
ber of  volunteers  could  not  be  determined  without  an  embark- 
ation. The  boats  were  accordingly  moved  a  short  distance  up 
the  river,  and  the  troops  disembarked.  • 

An  additional  number  of  boats  being  procured,  another  em- 
barkation took  place  on  the  morning  of  the  first  of  December, 
but  still  no  attempt  was  made  to  cross*  After  remaining  in  the 
boats  a  few  hours,  the  troops  were  ordered  to  be  withdrawn, 
and  huts  to  be  built  for  tlieir  winter-quarters. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  mortification  of  the  troops  on  tliis 
occasiop,  nor  indeed  t^e  disgust  felt  generally  throughout  the 
country.  Proclamations  had  been  issued  by  general  Smyth  a 
short  time  previous,  in  which  reflections  had  been  cast  on  tlie 
conductors  of  the  former  enterprk«s  against  Canatla,  and  the 
"  men  of  New  York'*  had  been  called  on  to  join  the  army  for 
a  few  weeks,  and  acquire  glory  and  renown  undei-  his  banner^, 
A  number  of  volunteers  had  been  collected  by  this  invitation, 
some  of  whom  had  come  a  considerable  distance,  Tlieir  ifkOf- 
lification  may  easily  be  conceived! 

General  Smyth,  m  his  official  report,  relies,  for  his  justifica- 

without  3000  men  at  once,  and  states  that  eonfridcrably  le^s 


v» 


3« 


lUSTORV  or  THE  WAS. 


than  2000  was  ihe  tr^tent  of  the  force  which  could  be  depend-, 
ed  upon  If  this  werf.the  case,  Smyth  was  certainly  fully  ju.- 
tifiTin  declining  the  invasion;  but  it  is  to  be  lamented  that 
mersuTe,  for  as"frtaininE  the  strength  of  the  army  could  not 
hTve  been  adopted  without  such  a  waste  of  public  patriotism, 
and  such  a  degradation  of  the  military  character.  Perhaps  the 
,ubUc  mind  L.  never  so  much  distracted,  ra.r  public  confix 
dence  so  much  shaken  as  on  this  occasion. 

T^  tnwmgence  "f  *e  surrender  of  the  army  at  Detroit 
and  of  the  ex>sw«=  thereby  of  an  extensive  frontier  to  e 
-Svaees  of  Wdian  warfare,  exc  ed  the  roost  lively  sensibi  ity 
rtroSghout  the  western  country.  The  army  destmed  for  the 
S  and  reinforcement  of  general  Hull,  had  been  ordered  to 
K  ideivous.  under  general  Harriion,  at  Louisville  and  Red 
Banks  early  "n  August,  and  on  the  receipt  of  the  intelligence 
rf  "he  capUulationfvolunteers  poured  in  so  fast  from  all  parts 
Vi  Kentucky  and  Ohio,  that  it  became  more  necessary  to  re- 
press  So  excite  th^  ardour  of  the  citizens,  »««  vast'mim. 
bers  were  discharge  ,  and  with  difficulty  prevailed  on  to  re- 

"^he  6r"uo«s  of  Harrison  were  dii^cted  to  the  relief 
«f  the-frontie?  posts.  He  arrived  at  Piqua  on  the  2d  of  Sep- 
UmhtT  with  about  2500  then,  whence,  after  completing  his «- 
lanKements  and  receiving  his  military  stores,  he  marched  on 
Ihe  5th  for  Fort  Wayne;  a  pes.  situated  at  the  conflyence  of 
the  rt  cr  St  Mar^and  St.  JoBcph,  which  after  their  junction 
assume  the  name  of  the  Miami  of  the  Lake.  This  post  hail 
Seen  for  some  tiroe  invested  by  hostile  Indians,  but,  on  hear- 
iBK  of  the  approach  of  Harrison  they  precipitate  y  ret.-eated 
Lnd  the  army  arrived  at  the  fort,  without  opposition,  on  the 

"Nofb!rng"abU  Immediately  to  move  on  towards  Detroit,  on 
acfount  of  the  want  of  proper  supplies,  Harrison  determined 
Jo  S^  the  intermeLte  time  in  breaking  up  the  towns  of 
IheSe  Indian  tribes.  For  this  purpose  two  c'cped.tions 
were  organized,  one  of  which  was  destined  against  the  Miam. 
WwXsit'S  upon  the  Wabash,  a  little  below  its  confluenc 
wUh  the  Tippacanoe  river,  the  other  against  the  Potawatam 
«1  aees,  which  stand  on  a  river  caUed  St.  Joseph,  which  fall! 
inio  lake  MichiKan.  Both  of  these  detachments  were  success- 
fa  Ntae  vuE  were  burnt,  and  all  the  corn  cut  up  and  de- 
stLTin  ord!r  that  the  want  of  provisions  might  force  the 
Indians  to  leave  irmv  u«*»  »•  **»  «•••-  ~~  ~="-=  j-  ,.  j 

A  few  days  after  the  return  of  the  troops  from  those  expcd 
Mo^s,g<-««"»  Winchester  arrived  at  Fort  Wayne  with  addJ 


HISIOKY    OF    THE  WAR.  '^f 

lional  reinforcements.  Wincliesler  had  been  originally  desti- 
ned to  the  command  of  this  army  by  the  president;  Harrison,, 
who  was  governor  of  the  Indiana  territory,  had  merely  been  ap- 
pointed a  major  general  by  brevet  by  the  governor  of  Ken- 
tucky and  by  him  placed  in  the  command  pto  tempore,  on  ac- 
count of  Ihe  urgency  of  the  occasion.  On  Uie  arri^^ai  of  Wm- 
Chester,  Harrison  accordingly  relinquished  the  command,  and 
set  out  for  his  own  territory  with  a  body  of  mounted  men,  foi^ 
the  purpose  of  breaking  up  the  Indian  settlements  m  that 
quarter.  He  had  not  proceeded  far,  however,  before  he  receiv- 
ed, by  express,  a  commission  from  the  president,  constituting 
him  commander  in  chief  of  the  north-western  army,  general 
Winchester  to  act  as  second  in  command.  These  counteriict- 
ing  measures  are  said  to  have  been  owing  to  the  ignorance  of 
the  president,  at  the  time  of  Winchester's  appointment,  of  the 
brevet  appointment.of  Harrison,  and  to  the  general  expression 
of  confidence  in  the  latter  by  the  Kentuckians  having  reached 
the  seat  of  government  shortly  after.  Fortunately  the  measure 
created  neither  jealousy  nor  dislike  on  either  side. 

General  Harrison  arrived  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  resumed  the 
command  on  the  23d  of  September.  The  day  previous  to  his 
arrivai,  general  Winchester  had  marched  for  Fort  Defiance  with 
2000  men  consisting  of  four  hundred  regulars,  a  brigade  of 
Kentucky  militia,  and  a  troop  of  horse. 

In  this  part  of  the  country  one  of  the  greatest  difficulties 
which  an  army  has  to  surmount,  is  that  which  arises  from  the 
difficulty  of  transporting  provisions  and  stores.  At  all  seasons 
the  rout  is  wet  and  miry.  The  country,  though  somewhat 
level,  is  broken  by  innumerable  little  runs,  which  are  generally 
dry,  except  during  or  immediately  after  a  heavy  rain,  when 
they  are  frequently  impassible  until  tht^jubsiding  of  the  water, 
which  is  generally  from  twelve  to  ,<^venty-ibur  hours.  Another 
of  the  difficuhiea  of  transportation  arises  from  the  nature  of 
the  soil,  \yhich,  being  generally  a  rich  loam,  free  from  stones 
and  gravel,  in  many  places  51  horse  will  mire  for  miles  full  leg 
deep  every  step. 

To  avoid  the  inconvei.iences  and  dangers  of  delay  m  tra- 
versing this  wilderness,  each  soldier  wlyk^urnished  with  pro- 
visions for  six  days, -and  general  Harris% proceeded  to  Fort 
St.  Mary's,  in  order  to  forward  a  detacht 
the  Au  Glaise  river,  which  affi)rds  a  wa 
considerable  part  of  the  way.  This  del 
under  the  command  of  colonel  Jennings,  -f- /   - 

The  army  being  now  in  the  centre  of  a  coflntry  which  pre- 
sented every  facility  for  the  Indian  modeofiKtefare,the  utmost 

D  2  1m 


,t^  with  supi^Ues  by 
onveyance  for  a 
eiit  was  placed 


58 


"^  HISTOUY   OF    THE    WAR. 


I 


vigilance  was  necessary  to  prevent  a  surprise.    The  troops 
Nvere  formed  into  three  divisions,  viz.  right  and  left  wings  and 
cenU'c.  Near  the  centre  was  the  baggage,  with  a  strong  guard  | 
in  front  and  rear.    The  wings  marched  about  60  or  100  yards  i 
distant  .he  centre.     The  front  guard,  which  was  ge.| 

iierallf  ai>       ^00  strong,  marched  far  enough  in  advance  fori 
their  rear  to  be  even  with  the  front  baggage  guard,  and  were 
preceded  by  a  company  of  spies,  40  in  number,  who  were  ge- 
nerally one  or  two  miles  in  advance.    The  rear  of  the  spies] 
was  coverd  by  the  horse? 

So  great  were  the  obstructions  occasioned  by  the  under- 
brushy  8cc.  on  this  march,  that  the  army  never  advanced  more 
than  from  six  to  ten  miles  a-day.  They  generally  halted  about 
three  o'clock  to  lay  out  and  fortify  their  encampment,  which! 
was  done  by  forming  around  it  a  breastwork  of  logs  and  brush, 
of  four  or  five  feet  in  height:  As  soon  a?  it  was  dark,  small 
fires  were  kindled  at  the  mouth  of  each  tent,  and  large  fires  on 
the  outside,  about  twenty  paces  from  th©  breastwork. 

On  the  24th  of  September,  being  the  third  day  of  the  march, 
the  first  trail  was  discovered;  th^  number  of  Indians  was  sup- 
posed, however,  to  be  only  twelve  or  fifteen.  They  were  pur- 
sued by  the  horse  for  six  or  eight  miles,  when,  being  pressed, 
they  scattf '  d,  which  rendered  further  pursuit  impracticable. 
The  following  day,  ensign  Legett,  of  the  regulars,  and  four 
volunteers,  solicited  and  obtained  permission  to  push  on  to  Fort 
Defiance,  then  25  miles  distant,  to  discover  the  strength  and 
situation  of  the  enemy.  These  gallant  youths,  however,  had 
too  little  experience  of  the  Indian  mode  of  warfare  to  conduct 
with  success  an  enterprize  so  hazardous.  They  fell  thr  same 
evening,  being  shot,  tomahawked  and  scalped  in  the  most  bar- 
barous manner,  and  in  that  condition  were  found  by  the  spies 
on  the  26th,  about  six  miles  in  advance  of  the  encampment 
for  the  night. 

Early  on  the  27th  the  spies  were  sent  out  to  bury  the  dead, 
supported  by  about  40  of  the  troop  of  horse.  They  had  not 
advanced  far  before  the  flankers  discovered  a  body  of  Indians 
in  ambuscade  on  each  sid#  of  a  small  Indian  trail,  on  which 
they  supposed  the  spies  would  march.  Jl  xlard,  the  comman- 
der, however,  aware  of  the  Indian  stratagems,  had  placed  his 
men  in  two  divisions  and  marched  one  on  each  side  of  the  trail. 
Finding  their  plan  frustrated,  the  Indians  left  the  ambuscade, 
and  made  for  an  elevaiion  a  short  distance  ahead.    While  form- 


e 1 u 


•  I^s^hW     .Wd 


instantly  returned,  accompanied  by  a  loud  and  terrific  yell.  The 
tavalry  w^fre  then  ordcrwl  to  advance  to  the  charge;  but  the  In- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    WAR. 


39 


dians  on  their  approach  raised  the  t-etreat  yell,  ami  precipitately 
fled  to  the  swamps  and  thickets.  The  pursuit  was  continued 
for  two  or  three  miles;  the  nature  of  the  country,  however,  ren- 
dered it  impossible  to  act  with  effect.  In  this  skirmish  only 
one  American  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  ankle.  The  Indians 
were  supposed  to  have  suffered  more  severely,  as  several  trails 
of  blood  were  discernible.  After  interring  the  remains  of  their 
unfortunate  brethren,  the  detachment  returned  and  took  the  ir 
usual  station  in  front  of  the  army. 

On  the  28th,  shortly  after  forming  the  line  of  march,  four 
Indians  were  discovered  and  fired  on  by  the  spies,  but  without 
effect.  A  general  engagement  being  now  expected  to  take 
place,  the  order  of  battle  was  formed;  but  no  enemy  appearing, 
the  line  of  march  was  recommenced,  and  the  advanced  part  of 
the  horse  was  ordered  to  push  forward  to  ascertain  whether  or 
not  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy  was  at  hand.  In  a  short  time 
a  fresh  trail  of  Indians  was  discovered.  These  indications  of 
the  near  approach  to  the  enemy  determined  the  general  to  cross 
the  river  as  soon  as  possible,  and  accordingly  a  tolerable  ford 
being  discovered  by  the  troopers,  the  army  passed  over  and  en- 
camped on  the  opposite  shore.  Here  a  fresh  trail  was  per- 
ceived nearly  equal  to  the  one  made  by  the  army,  which  was 
supposed  to  be  the  trail  made  by  Jennings'  detachment,  a  sup- 
position which  was  hailed  With  joy  by  the  soldiers,  whose  pro- 
visions were  now  exhausted.  Their  joy,  however,  was  but  of 
short  duration.  A  party  of  horse,  who  had  been  despatched 
down  the  trail,  reported  on  their  return  that  it  had  been  madg 
by  a  large  force  ot  the  enemy,  whose  encampment  they  had 
discovered  about  three  mile?  below,  two  miles  alxive  Fort  Defi- 
ance, with  fires  burning,  war  poles  erected,  aiud^e  bloody  flag 

displayed.  .     ^  -         t 

Late  on  the  night  of  the  29th  an  express  arrived  from  Jen- 
nings' regiment,  stating  that  they  were  encamped  oft  the  Au 
Glaize,  40  miles  above  Fort  Defiance,  where  Jenningtf  had  been 
ordered  to  erect  a  block-house.  While  engaged  on  this  duty  he 
had  ascertained  by  his  spies  that  fort  Defiance  was  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Briush  and  Indians,  and  he  had  therefore  thought  it 
imprudent  to  proceed  further  without  reinforcements. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  30th,  captain  Garrard  and  30  of 
his  troopers  were  ordered  to  proceed  with  all  possible  despatch 
to  Jennings'  block-house  to  escort  a  brigade  of  pack  horses 
with  provisions  for  the  relief  of  the  starving  army.  The  de- 
^__i,-^.„y,i.  ^<>sr'Hf^H  ♦•h#»  hlfirk^hoiise  in  the  course  of  the  foll6w- 
ing  day,  and,  after  resting  a  few  hours,  again  set  off  as  an  escort 
to  the  provisions.    They  rejoined  the  army  on  the  evening  of 


^^  HISTORY  OF  THfiW Aft- 

♦he  2d  of  October,  drenched  with  36  hours  incessant  rain.  This 
was  a  ioyful  evening  to  the  soldiers.  Provisions  were  now 
plenty,ffihe  escort  Was  accompanied  by  their  beloved  gene- 
?al  Harrison,  who  resumed  the  command.  Durmg  the  ab- 
sence of  the  detachment,  the  army  had  talcen  possession  of 
Fort  Defiance,  the  British  and  Indians  havmg  retreated  down 

'^ofthe  4th  of  October,  general  Harrison,  having  left  a^^^^^^^^ 
Defiance  the  force  which  constituted  the  left  wing  of  the  army 
lYnder  general  Winchester,  returned  to  the  ?^ttlements  to  or- 
t^anize  and  bring  up  the  centre  and  right  wmg.  On  the  day 
Kdeparturefhe  ordered  general  Tupper,  with  the  mounted 
troops  under  his  command,  consisting  of  nearly  1000  men,  to 
proceed  on  an  expedition  to  the  Rapids.  This  expedition  was 
never  carried  intJ  effect.  Its  failure  arose  i^rtly  from  the  un- 
disciplined  state  of  the  troops  which  had  been  s^iec  ed  for  the 
enterpriz^,  and  partly  from  a  disagreement  which  took  place 
between  their  commander  and  general  Wmchester,  who  com. 
manded  at  Fort  Defiance.  The  inefficiency  of  raw  militia  was 
perhaps  never  more  strikingly  displayed  than  on  this  occasion. 

General  Tupper,  after  returning  with  his  mounted  volunteers 
to  Urbanna,  was  despatched  with  the  centre  of  the  north-west- 
ern  army,  consisting  of  a  regiment  of  regulars,  and  the  Ohio 
vlntee^A  and  militia,  to  Fort  M» Arthur.  The  "ght  >ving, 
consisting  of  a  brigade  of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  brigade  of  Vir- 
cinia  militia,  were  stationed  at  Sandusky. 

Shortly  after  his  arrival  at  Fort  M' Arthur,  general  Tupper 
organized  another  expedition  for  the  purpose  of  proceedmg  to 
?hf  rapids  of  the  Miami.  He  left  the  fort  on  the  lOtb,  with 
a  forc^  consisting  of  upwards  of  600  men,  the  soldiers  carry- 
ine  provisions  in  their  knapsacks  for  five  days.  On  the  eve- 
W  of  the  13th,  being  then  about  13  miles  from  the  rapids,  an 
Seer  was  despatched  to  examine  the  situation  of  the  enemy, 
bv  whom  it  was  ascertained  that  the  British  and  Indiana  still 
occupied  the  settlements  and  fort  at  the  rapids;  and  that  the 
boats  and  yessels  lay  a  little  below.  ,  u^i^L 

In  consequence  of  this  information  the  detachment  haltlJd 
until  sunset*  when  they  proceeded  to  a  ford  about  two  and  an 
half  miles  above  the  rapids,  whence  scouts  were  again  detached 
to  observe  mdre  particularly  the  situation  and  force  of  the  ene- 
my. The  necessary  information  being  soon  received,  the 
:^i^r..  xxere  ordpred  to  cross  t+ie  river,  in  order  to  attack  the 
enVmy  at  the  dawn  of  day.  Unfortunately,  however,  it  was 
impracticable  for  the  troops  to  cross.  Every  expedient  that 
could  be  devised  was  unavailing,  and  a  nUmber  of  men  Who 


HISTORY  or  I'HE  W All- 


41 


«e«  swept  down  the  rapids,  were  with  diRcully  save^,  witU 
the  loss  of  their  muskets  and  ammunition.  „  .,  ,i,„ 

In  the  morning,  convinced  that  he  ww  unable  to  get  at  the 
,ntmv  eS  Tipper  ordered  the  spies  to  endeavour  to  decoy 
S  o«r,  aTd  they  accordingly  proceeded  down  and  discover- 
/Lmtel^s     Tl3  stratagem,  however,  proved  unsucccss- 
Ll    foTthoTgh  a  few  Mians  crossed  the  river,  they  were  too 
«utious  to  bl  drawn  within  the  lines.    The  mam  body  was 
Sen  marched  down  the  Miami,  opposite  to  the  encampment 
'of  the  e-^my.    They  appeared  in  '^onii.\^rM.^^^^^-»^ 
,,t„»r.<-ed  irnard  opened  from  the  woods.     1  he  Bntisti,  wno 
werT'n  theTes  Js  and  boats,  immediately  slipped  their  ca^ 
uts  and  proceeded  down  the  river.    The  Indian  women  were 
seen  "vmS^e  off  on  the  road  leading  to  Detroitj  the  men  com- 
XedTere  at  tke  detachment  from  their  muskets  and  a  four 

•"g^^I  Topper  having  observed  a  number  of  counted  In^ 
dians  proceeding  up  the  river,  and  fearful  of  t*'*^?"? '"f'^l 
siirDtised,  ordered  the  detachment  to  return.    When  witbin 
aSfmile  of  the  encampment,  some  of  the  soldiers,  pressed 
ZhMX,  hunger,  the  provisions  being  now  entirely  exhaust- 
?d7fired  upon  allrove  of  hogs,  contrary  to  orders.  »^d  pursued 
thm  nearly  half  a  mile;  ot^.ers  left  tk  "'"j"' »°f  ™^^?  * 
field  to  eather  corn.    At  this  moment  a  body  of  mounMa  m- 
dfans  came  uiK)n  them,  killed  four  men,  and  then  commenced  an 
a  ttck  on  the'^ear  of  'the  right  fl^nk,    The  column  bein?  'n. 
stanllv  thrown  back,  commenced  a  brisk  fire,  which  caused  the 
Indians  t™  give  ground;  but  they  quickly  ralUed,  and  passing 
aloie  the  van-gulrd,  made  a  violent  charge  upon  the  rear  ot 
th^  llfrcoluml     This  column  was  also  thrown  briskly  back. 

and  eve.^  at^n-Pt  ■"»'»'=  to  break  the  ««",^/^6/«''"^^2ri" 
20  minutes  the  Indians  were  driven  from  the  fie^d.    Concm- 
inKThowever,  that  the  charge  of  the  mounted  men  was  merely 
"fended  to  throw  the  troops  into  disorder  «» ■'«l'«.T"otmn 
attack  of  the  foot,  general  Tupper  ordered  the  "pt  column 
to  move  up  into  marching  order,  lest  that  "tuck  should  be 
Ide  on  the  right  flai.k.   This  column  had  scarcdy  reS^ned 
their  position,  when  information  was  received  that  the  Indians 
were  crossing  the  river  in  considerable  numbers.    Tupper 
immediately  ordered  the  left  column  to  «"''"^'he'r  march- 
ing order,  and  proceeded  to  the  head  of  the  right  column, 
where  he  found  that  a  number  of  Indians  had  crossed  on  horse- 
V,...!,  ,!,,.  ^„.~..  were  still  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  and  about 
20o"on  tiie  opposite  bank.     A  batulion  was  immediately  order- 
ed to  advance  and.  dislodge  them-    This  attack  was  success- 


42 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


ful.    The  Indians  were  forced  to  retire,  and  several  of  them 
were  shot  from  their  horses  while  crossing  the  river. 

The  horses  rode  by  the  Indians  in  this  attack  are  stated  to 
liave  been  much  superior  to  those  thsy  had  been  accustomed 
to  use.  They  were  high  and  active;  they  were  also  supplied 
with  pistols  and  holsters.  A  nuriiber  of  Indians  were  shot  from 
their  horses;  but  they  were  with  great  dexterity  thrown  on 
again,  and  carried  off  the  field.  Split.  I^eg  led  on  several  of 
the  charges  at  the  commencement  of  the  attack,  mounted  on 
a  well  trained  white  horse,  from  which  he  sotAetimes  fired,  and 
at  other  times  leaped  from  him  behind  a  tree.  It  was  suppos- 
ed that  he  was  wounded  in  the  action,  as  another  warrior  rode 
the  same  horse  in  some  of  the  last  charges. 

After  the  retreat  of  the  Indians  the  detachiricnt  were  com- 
pelled to  return  with  all  speed  to  Fort  M'Arlihur,  as  their  ^- 
visions  were  consumed,  and  they  had  to  marqji  40  milqs  before 
there  was  a  possibility  of  a  supply.  Brr  1 

On  the  13th  of  December,  general  Tupper  conducted  ano- 
ther detachment  to  the  rapids,  consisting  of  beiwe«n  I50p  and 
2000  men.  On  theeast  side  of  the  Miami,  a  few  miles  above 
the  rapids,  a  body  of  the  enemy  was  discovered,  consisting  of 
300  British  regulars,  and  600  or  700  Indians.  Having  ascer- 
tained the  position  of  the  enemy,  Tupper  ordered  a  small  de- 
taclonent  to  advance  and  commence  an  attack,  and  then  to  re- 
treat. This  stratagem  succeeded.  The  enemy  pursued  with 
impetuosity  until  they  were  nearly  surrovnded,  and  on  being 
charged,  were  repulsed  on  all  quarters  with  considerable  slaugh- 
ter, and  put  to  fught.  Fonrteen  or  fifteen  of  the. British,  and 
seventy  or  eighty  Indians  were  left  on  the  field.  Many  were 
likewise  killed  in  swimming  across  the  river,  into  which  they 
precipitately  plunged,  that  being  their  only  means  of  escape. 

While  these  opei»*tions  were  carried  on,  on  the  borders  of 
lake  Erie,  several  expeditions  were  set  on  foot  against  the  In- 
dian settlements  in  the  Indiana  and  Illinois  territbries.  A  por- 
tion of  th6  Kentucky  volunteers,  under  general  Hopkins,  and 
'a  corps  of  Kentucky  rangers,  commanded  by  colonel  Russel, 
were  particularly 'destined  for  this  service.  This  force  having 
met  at  Vincennes,  it  was  agreed  that  Hopkins  should  first  pro- 
ceed to  thfi  relief  of  fort  Harrison,  a  post  higher  up  the  Wa- 
bash, which  was  at  that  time  invested  by  the  Indians,  and 
should  then  proceed  to  the  Peoria  Indian  towns  on  the  river 
Illinois^  where  he  was  to  be  met  by  the  rangers  under  Russel. 
Another  detachment,  under  captain  Craig,  was  to  join  them 
at  the  same  place.  This  last  detachmenj;  was  to  marc^  u^lhe 
IHinois  river^ 


HISTORY  ©F  THE  WAR. 


43 


Ciptain  Taylor,  the  commander  at  Fort  Harrison,  having  re- 
ceived inforjnation  of  the  approach  of  the  hostile  Indians  a 
short  time  before  they  made  their  appearance,  had  used  every 
precaution  that  the  smallness  of  his  garrison  would  admit  of. 
The  first  hostile  symptoms  appeared  on  the  evening  of  the  3d 
of  September,  when  two  young  men,  who  had  been  employed 
a  short  distance  from  the  fort,  were  shot  and  sca4ped,  and  were 
found  in  that  condition  the  next  morning  by  a  small  party  that  * 
had  been  sent  out  to  seek  them.  This  circumstance  caused 
them  to  redouble  their  vigilance,  and  the  oflRcers  of  the  guard 
were  directed  to  walk  the  round  all  night,  in  order  if  possible 
to  prevent  any  surprize. 

About  1 1  o'clock  on  the  evening  Qf  the  4th,  the  garrison  be- 
ing alarmed  by  the  firing  of  one  of  the  centinels,  every  man  in- 
stuntly  flew  to  his  post.     In  a  few  minutes  the  cry  of  fire  add- 
ed to  the  alarm,  when  it  was  discovered  that  the  lower  block- 
house, in  which  had  been  deposited  the  property  of  the  con- 
tractor, had  been  fired  by  the  Indians.  Such  was  the  darkness 
of  the  night,  that  although  the  upper  part  of  the  building  was 
occupied  by  a  corporal's  guard  as  an  alarm  post,  yet  the  In- 
dians succeeded  in  firing  it  undiscovered,  ^nd  unfortunately,  a 
few  minutes  after  the  discovery  of  the  fire,  it  communicated 
I  to  a  quantity  of  whisky  that  had  been  deposited  there,  and  im- 
I  mediately  assended   to  the  roof,  baffling  every  effort  that  was 
I  made  to  extinguish  it.     As  the  block-house  adjoined  the  bar- 
i  racks,  which  constituted  part  of  the  fortifications,  most  of  the 
I  men  gav€f  themselves  up  for  lost;  and  indeed  the  raging  of  the 
fife,  the  yells  of  the  Indians,  and  the  cries  of  the  women  and 
I  children  (who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  fort,)  were  sufficient  to 
appal  the  stoutest  heart.     Happily  the  presence  of  mhid  of  the 
commander  never  forsook  him.   He  instantly  stationed  a  part 
of  his  men  on  the  roof  of  the  barracks,  with  orders  to  tear  off 
[that  part  adjoining  the  block-house,  while  the  remainder  kept 
up  a  constant  fire  on  the  Indians  from  another  block-house  and 
[two  bastion?.   The  roof  was  torn  off  under  a  shower  of  bullets 
Ifrom  without,  by  which,  however,  only  one  man  was  killed  and 
Itwo  wounded. 

By  this  success  the  soldiers  were  inspired  with  firmness,  and 
[now  used  such  exertions,  that  before  day  they  had  not  only  ex- 
[Unguished  tae  fire,   but  raised  a  breast-work  five  or  six  fset 
ligh  in  the  gap  occasioned  by  the  burning  of  the  block-house, 

llthnug"h  the  In*^''an«  r.nntiniiftfl  fo  DQU*^  '^i   a  heavv  firi*  nf  bail's 

md  showers  of  arrows  during  the  whole  time  the  attack  lasted 
[[which  was  seven  hours),  in  every  part  of  the  parade. 
On  the  first  appearance  of  the  fire,  two  of  the  soldiers  had, 


4i 


HISTORY  OV  1;HE  WAK. 
* 


in  despair,  jumped  the  pickets.  One  of  them  returned  about 
an  hour  before  day,  and,  running  up  towards  the  gate,  begged 
for  God's  sake  that  it  might  be  opened.  On  suspicion  that 
this  was  aa  Indian  stratagem,  he  was  fired  at.  He  then  ran  to 
the  other  bastion,  where,  his  voice  being  known,  he  vvas  direct. 
ed  to  lie  down  till  day-light  behind  an  empty  barrel  that  hap. 
pened  to  be  outside  of  the  pickets.  This  poor  fellow  was 
shockingly  wounded,  and  his  companion  cut  to  pieces  by  tn« 

"Af^e^r  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  tUl  six  in  the  coming, 

Tvhich  after  day  light  was  returned  with  considerable  effect  by 

the  garrison,  the  Indians  retreated  out  of  reach  of  the  guns. 

They  then  drove  together  all  che  horses  and  hogs  in  the  neigh- 

bourhood,  and  shot  them  in  sight  of  their  owners.    The  whole] 

of  the  horned  cattle  they  succeeded  in  carrying  off. 

^   In  this  attack  the  Americans  had  but  three  kil  ed,  and  three 

bounded,  including  the  two  that  jumped  the  pickets.   1  he  in* 

dian  loss  was  supposed  to  be  considerable,  but  as  they  always 

cari-y  off  both  their  dead  and  wounded,  the  amount  could  not  be 

ascertained.     At  the  moment  of  the  attack  there  were  only  fif- 

teen  effective  men  in  the  garrison;  the  others  bemg  cither  sick 

or  convalescent.  ,  r  ,„^uA 

The  Indians  disheartened  by  this  failure,  made  no  further 
attempt  on  the  fort^  but  the  garrison  still  remained  in  a  peri- 
lous  situation,  as  the  greater  part  of  their  provisions  had  beer 
destroyed  by  the  fire,  and  the  loss  of  their  stock  prevented  tu- 
ture  supplies.    Captain  Taylor  therefore  attempted  to  send,  b 
night,  two  men  in  a  canoe  do^n  the  river  to  Vincennes,  to  mak 
known  his  situation,  but  they  were  forced  to  return,  the  rive 
^eing  found  too  well  guarded.  The  Indians  had  made  a  hre  or 
the  bank  of  the   river,  a  short  distance  below  ^he   S*^.^^^^^^ 
which  gave  them  an  opportunity  of  seemg  any  craft  that  migm 
attempt  to  pass,  with  a  canoe  ready  below  to  ^n^^f^^P^^K  J 
more  ^fortuhate' attempt  was  made  by  land,  and  the  garrisc. 
was  immediately   after  relieved  by  thfe  force  under  general 
Hopkins,  consisting  of  nearly  4000  men.  f 

.      After  the  relief  of  Fort  Harrison,  Hopkms  began  his  prepaH 
■rations  for  his  expedition  against  the  Peoria  tow"^^  J^J 
commenced  their  march  on  the  mornmg  of  the  15th  oi  ucio 
ber,  and  continued  it  for  four  days  ma  direction  n^^rty   no^^^^^^ 
R»there  aeainthe  snirit  of  insubordinaUon  began  to  show  itj 

;S  "  Th^^i^l  siktes  in  his  official  despatch,  ^  J^^ 
ordered  a  halt  on  the  afternoon  of  the  4th  day,  m  a  fine  piece  o 
grass,  for  the  purpose  of  refreshing  the  ^o^^^^»  ^^  J.^.^g 
dressed  by  one  of  his  majors,  in  the  most  r«de  and  dictatona 


hlb'lUKY   Oi;    TilK  WAU. 


45 


manner,  requiring  liim  instantly  to  resume  his  march,  or  his 
battalion  would  break  from  the  army  and  return.  Of  the  re- 
ply of  the  general  to  this  modest  request  we  are  not  informed. 
Next  evenint^,  however,  s^n  event  took  place  which  seems  to 
have  spread  the  spirit  of  disconttjnt  through  the  whole  detach- 
ment. A  violent  gust  of  wind  having  arisen  about  -  -set, 
just  as  the  troops  had  encamped,  the  Indians  set  ^  i »:  i,j  he 
prairie  all  around  them,  which  drove  furiously  on  v^  ^.mp. 
They  succeeded,  however,  in  protecting  themselves  by  firing 
the  grass  around  the  encampment. 

Next  morning,  in  consequence  of  the  discontent  that  pre- 
vailed, the  general  called  a  council  of  his  officers,  to  whom  he 
stated  his  apprehensions,  the  expectations  of  the  country,  and 
the  disgrace  attending  the  failure  of  the  expedition;  and,  on 
the  other  hand,  the  exhausted  state  of  the  horses,  and  the  want 
of  provisions.  He  then  requested  the  commandants  of  each  re- 
giment to  convene  the  whole  of  the  officers  belonging  to  it,  and 
to  take  the  sense  of  the  army  on  the  measures  to  be  pursued; 
adding,  that  if  500  volunteers  turned  out  he  would  put  himself 
at  their  head,  and  proceed  in  quest  of  the  Indian  towns,  and  the 
rest  of  the  army  might  return  to  fort  Harrison.  In  less  tlian 
an  hour  the  report  was  made  almost  unanimously  to  return. — ^ 
In  vain  did  the  general  request  that  he  might  dictate  the  course 
for  that  day  only.  His  authority  was  now  at  an  end;  and  all  the 
efforts  of  the  officers  were  necessary  to  restore  order  in  the 
ranks,  and  to  conduct  the  retreat  without  danger  from  tlie  sur-^ 
rounding  though  unseen  foe. 

Though  this  expedition  returned  almost  without  obtaining 
the  sight  of  an  enemy,  yet  it  was  not  altogether  unproductive 
of  benefit.  The  Indians  of  the  neighbouring  towns,  hearing  of 
Its  approach,  had  marched  the  greater  part  of  their  warriors  to 
meet  it,  leaving  their  villages  in  a  defenceless  condition.  In 
this  state  they  were  found  by  colonel  Russell,  who  had  marched 
upon  them  in  the  expectation  of  meeting  with  Hopkins*  army, 
nnd  his  detachment  attacked  and  defeated  those  who  had  been 
left  behind.  Having  driven  them  hito  a  swamp,  through  which 
the  rangers  pursued  them  for  three  miles,  up  to  their  waists 
in  mud  and  water,  he  returned  and  burnt  their  towns,  and  de- 
stroyed their  corn.  T'he  number  of  warriors  who  advanced  to 
meet  Hopkins  from  those  towns  is  stated  to  have  amounted  to 
700;  Russell's  force  consisted  of  not  more  than  400  men.  A 
considerable  number  of  Indians  were  killed  in  this  attack.  On 
the  part  of  the  Americans  there  were  only  four  wou^ijedt^SiQne 
of  them  mortally. 

Craig's  force  wa's  still  smaller  than  that  undex'  Russell;  It  h 

E 


4/1 


■SP 


HISTORY  OF  THE  \VAU 


4ti 

stated  to  l.ave  consisted  of  not  ^nore  than  80  men.     Wiih  this 

small  body  he  marched  up  to  the  Illinois  river,  twenty  miles 

a'ove  t^e  lo'n.  destroyed  by  Russell     Here  he  attacked  an  In- 

dian  settlement,  which  he  totally  deStroyed    with  all  the   m- 

nrovements,  and  took  42  prisoners,  one  of  them  an  English- 

Jllan, Td  1  large  collection  of  furs.     He  returned  with  his  pn- 

vnnpr^  and  hootv  Without  the  loss  ot  a  man. 

Xth'^Sof  November  ^noth- Indian  expediU^^^^^^ 

nndert-ken  by  general  Hopkins,  with  about  ,1250  men.      Ihis 

x^^^^^^^^  the  Wabash,  where  the  bat- 

eof  Tipnac^        had  been  fought  about  twelve  months  before. 

HavU  left  fort  Harrison  on  the  lUh,  accompanied  with  boats 

^rihe^  transportation  of  provisions,  forage,  and  military  stores, 

HopkL    a'^^^^  Prophet's  town  on  the  19th,  without  in- 

teSon      Early  in  the  morning  of  that  day,  300  men  were 

fetached  io  suri^'ise  the   Winebago  town  on  P--  Passu 

creek,  a  short  distance  below  the  Prophet's.      Hav  ng  sur- 

rounded  it  about  the  break  of  day,  they  were  surprised  to  find 

it  evacuated.     The  party,  accordingly,  after  destroymg  it,  re- 

ioined  the  mpin  body  at  the  Prophet  s  town. 

^  For  three  days  Hopkins'  detachment  was  employed  in  achiev- 

ing    1  e  compete  destruction  of  the  Prophet's  town,  and  the 

lanre  Kicapoo  village  adjoining,  the  former  consistmg  of  40 

She  later  of  i  6o\abins  and  huts.     They  likewise  destroy- 

^d  all  their  cultivated  fields,  fences,  Sec.  and  constructed  works 

for  the  defence  of  the  boats  and  of  the  encampment. 

On  the  21st  a  reconnoitering  party  were  attacked  by  a  body 
of  Indians,  and  one  of  their  number  killed.    The  following  day 
^  horsemen  were  despatched  to  bury  their  comrade,  and  gain 
Tbetter  knowledge  of  the  ground,  but  they  unfortunately  fell 
Tnto  an  ambuscade,  in  which  18  ot   the  party   ^^re  killed, 
wounded  or  n.i.sing.     This  party,  on  their  return,  brought  m- 
Trmation  of  a  large  assemblage  of  the  enemy,  who,  encouraged 
by  the  strength  of  their  camp,  ay^peared  to  be  waitmg  an^at- 
m-k.    Every  preparation  was  accordingly  made  to  march  early 
n'cxt  morni.^,1  tcl  engage  the  enemy.     A  violent  fall  o^^^  snow, 
however  prevented  the  movement  on  the  23d;  «««  the  camp 
vLs   fonr.d  ubaudoned  on  the  following   day.     The  position 
which  the  lndi?ins  had  thus  abandoned  is  spoken  oi  as  having 
been  reniarkably  slron-.     The  Ponce  Passu,  a  deep  rapid 
r.reek,  was  in  their  rear,  running  in  a  semicircle;  in  f J^ont  was 
u  Wuff,  H;0  ii'ct  high,  almost  perfjendicular,  and  only  to  bcj  pe- 
L^MMtfd  bv  tln-ee  steep  ravines.  »    _  .    „ 

"~0n  the  return  of  the  troops  to  can»p,  the  river  wa»  iuuna  so 
, ,.-;>.{' i^,.  -c  .^,,-'..r>-»  then!  kr  -l.c  T^urnof  the  bot^tr-     7't?^- 


t 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAU. 


m    47 


kins  had  intended  to  have  spent  one  week  more  in  endcavouv- 
inop  to  and  the  Indian  camps;  but  the  shoeless,  shuiless  state 
of  the  troops,  now  clad  in  the  remnants  of  their  su.Sniier  dress; 
"  river  full  of  ice;  the  hills  covered  with  snow;  and,  above  all, 
the  uncertainty  of  finding  an  enemy;  all  these  circumstances 
determinfed  him  t-o  return.  They  accordingly  set  out  on  the 
25th,  and  in  a  few  days  arrived  at  Fort  Harrison,  havmg  com- 
Dieted  a  march  of  upwards  of  100  miles  into  the  H^dian  coun- 
trv  which  is  totally  devoid  of  roads,  and  destroyed  thrfec  ot 
their  principal  towns,  in  the  space  of  less  than  twenty  days. 

The  last  Indian  expedition  of  which  mention  is  made,  m  this 
Quarter,  is  one  which  was  commanded  by  colonel  Campbell,  coji- 
sistinff  of  600  men,  which  marched  from  Greenville,  (Ohio) 
against  the  towns  on  the  Mississinewa,  a  branch  of  the  Wabash. 
On  the  irth  of  December,  after  marching  all  night,  Camp- 
bell arrived  at  one  of  the  towns  about  day-break,  wliu  h  hc^m- 
stantly  attacked,  and  the  Indians  were  driven  across  the  Mis- 
Swa  river;  with  the  loss  of  7  killed  and  37  pnsor.ers. 
Only  one  American  was  killed  and  one  wounded  in  this  sku - 
mish— After  securing  the  prisoners  a  part  of  the  detachment 
was  despatched  down  the  river,  who  returned  the  same  day, 
liavinc  burned  three  villages  without  resistance.    1  hey  then 
encamped  on  the  ground  where  the  first  village  stood. 

The  following  morning  a  little  before  day  light,  the  camp 
was  attacked  by  a  body  of  Indians,  supposed  to  be  about  300. 
They  commenced  their  attack  on  the  right,  with  a  horrid  yell. 
After  a  desperate  conflict  of  about  three  quarters  of  an  hour 
a  charge  was  made  by  the  cavalry,  which  forced  the  Indiaiib  to 
retreat,  leaving  40  killed  on  the  field.  In  this  affair  the  Ame- 
ricans  had  eight  killed,  and  twenty-five  or  thirty  wounded. 

Another  attack  was  anticipated,  as  information  was  received 
that  Tecumseh,  with  four  or  five  hundred  warriors  was  oi^y 
fifteen  miles  from  the  scene  of  action;  but  reintorcenicnis 
shortly  after  arriving  from  Greenville,  they  effected  their  re- 
treat without  molestation.  ,,     .  J       1 

A  small  body  of  Georgia  voUmtetjrs  had  been  collected  early 
in  \ugust,  for  an  expedition  against  the  Indians  on  our  bouth- 
ern  border,  where  considerable  depaedations  had  bcvjn  com- 
mitted. Several  unforeseen  circumstances,  however,  prevent- 
ed its  beinK  carried  into  effect,  until  the  24th  of  September, 
when  the  detachment,  consisting  of  only  1 17  men,  wjih  twelve 
horses,  marched  from  St.  Johns  under  the  command  of  colonel 
Newnan,  against  the  Lotchaway  towns  in  East  Honda.     Ihis 

small  torce  oanicu  v»itn  lucui  i-iisj  &"•«*  ----j   -  i -; 

The  ddtaohment  left  St.  Johns  in  the  t^vcmng,  m^rchiti^lfi 


-iS 


mSTOUY    OF    THE    WAii. 


;»l 


in  file,  vvith  a  small  party  in  front  and  in  rear,  the  openness 
of  the  coiUitry  rendering  it  unnecessary  to  employ  men  on  the 
right  and  left.  The  encampment  at  night,  there  being  three 
companies,  was  in  the  form  of  a  triangle,  with  the  baggage  in 
the  centre;  the  men  lying  with  their  clothes  on,  their  feet  point- 
ing outwards,  and  their  firelocks  in  their  arms.  In  case  of  an 
attack,  the  officers  were  instructed  to  bring  up  their  companies 
upon  the  right  and  left  of  the  company  fronting  the  enemy,  and 
to  follow  the  Indian  mode  of  fighting  until  ordered  to  charge. 

In  case  of  meeting  tho  enemy  on  the  march,  the  first  compa- 
ny, which  consisted  of  riflemen,  was  instructed  to  file  ofF  to  the 
right,  the  centre  company  to  advance  and  form  to  the  front  in 
single  rank,  and  the  company  in  the  rear  to  file  off  to  the  left; 
the  whole  then  to  advance  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  and  en- 
deavour to  encircle  the  enemy. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  when  wiihin  ^  few  miles 
of  the  Indian  towns,  the  party  in  advance  discovered  a  body  ot" 
Indians  marching  along  the  path  meeting  them.  The  compa- 
nies were  immediately  ordered  to  advance  according  to  the  pre- 
vious instructions,  which  appeared  exactly  suited  to  the  situa- 
tion in  which  the  enemy  was  found,  and  Newnan  placed  him- 
self at  the  head  of  the  centre  company.  The  Indians  were  now 
seen  falling  back  and  making  preparations  for  battle,  by  mi- 
slinging  their  packs,  trimming  their  rifles,  and  forming;  and  the 
Americans  ciontinued  to  advance,  taking  advantage  of  the  trees 

their  progress,  until  within  musket  shot  of  the  enemy,  when 


'U 


inany  of  the  Indians  began  to  fire.  The  charge  being  now 
ordered,  the  enemy  were  forced  precipitately  to  retire,  and  take 
refuge  in  a  swamp.  Unfortunately  the  riflemen  in  filing  to 
the  right,  inadvertently  took  too  great  a  circuit,  by  which 
metms  a  small  swamp  was  interposed  between  them  and  the 
Indians,  which  rendered  the  victory  leas  decisive  than  it  would 
have  been  had  the  whole  charged  together  before  the  Indians 
dispersed.  The  action,  including  the  skirmishing  on  the 
flanks,  lasted  two  hours  and  a  half,  the  Indians  having  fre- 
quently attempted  to  outflank  and  get  in  rear  of  the  detach- 
ment, but  were  always  repulsed,  by  the  companies  extending 
TO  the  right  and  left.  The  detachment  had  one  killed  and  nine 
wounded  in  this  affair.  The  loss  of  the  Indians  was  more  con- 
siderable.    Among  the  killed  was  their  king  Payne. 

The  Americans  remained  on  the  ground  to  watch  the  mo- 
tions of  the  Indians,  who  were  now  seen  near  the  swamp,  paint- 
inc  themselves^  and  in  consultation*  which  indicated  an  inten 
tion  of  renewing  the  coii%it.    Accordingly  half  an  hour  before 
sun- act,  having  obtained  a  considerable  reinforcement  of  ne- 


HISTORY  OF  THR  WAH.  ^  *- 

eties  and  Indians  from  their  towns,  they  commenced  the  most 
horrid  yells,  imitating  the  cries  and  noise  of  almost  every 
animal  of  the  forest,  their  chiefs  advancing  in  front  m  a  stoop 
inc  serpentine  manner,  and  making  the  most  wild  and  Irantic 
eestures,  until  they  approached  within  two  hundred  yards, 
when  they  commenced  firing.  The  soldiers  remamed  perfectly 
still  and  steady  behind  logs  and  trees,  until  the  enemy  had  ap- 
proached somewhat  nearer,  when  a  brisk  and  well  directed  hve 
soon  drove  them  back  to  their  original  ground.  1  he  action 
lasted  until  eight  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  were  completely 
repulsed.  Two  men  were  killed  and  one  wounded;  the  enemy 
carried  off  several  of  their  men  before  it  was  dark,  after  which 
all  firing  was  at  the  spot  from  whence  the  flash  arose.  Alter 
thus  fighting  all  day,  the  detachment  had  to  work  throughout 
the  whole  of  the  night,  and  by  day  light  had  completed  a  tole- 
rable breast-work  of  logs  and  earth  with  port-holes. 

As  soon  as  it  was  dark,  one  of  the  officers  was  dcpatched  to 
St.  John's  for  reinforcements  and  provisions,  and  six  of  the  men 
took  the  liberty  to  accompany  him,  taking  with  them  some  ot 
the  best  horses. 

For  two  days  succeeding  the  battle,  nothing  was  seen  nor 
heard  of  the  enemy;  but  on  the  eveningrof  the  third  day  they 
commenced  firing  at  their  works  at  longdistance,  and  renewed 
it  every  day  for  five  or  six  days,  but  witMut  effect. 

Seven  or  eight  days  having  elapsed  since  the  express  had 
left  them,  hunger  was  staring  them  in  the  face,  and  they  were 
now  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  eating  one  of  the  horses,  tMy 
had  no  surgeon  to  dress  the  wounded,  and  apprehensions  were 
entertwned  that  the  enemy  would  receive  reinforcements  from 
Augustine,  or  the  Makasukie  Indians.  Expecting  relief,  how- 
ever,  every  hour,  Newnan  was  unwillihg  to  leave  the  breast- 
work while  a  horse  was  left  to  eat;  but  one  of  the  captains  de- 
clared that  he  was  determined  to  set  off  with  his  company;  and 
many  of  the  men,  giving  up  all  hopes  of  relief,  talked  of  desert- 
ing in  the  night  rather  than  perish  or  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  mer- 
ciless negroes  and  Indians,  whom  they  were  taught  to  believe 
would  surround  them  in  great  numbers  in  a  few  days. 

In  this  trying  situation,  the  few  remaining  horses  being  shoi 
down,  and  the  number  of  sick  daily  increasing,  Newnan  reluc- 
tantly consented  to  leave  the  works,  and.dii'ected  the  litters  to 
be  prepared  to  carry  the  wounded.  About  nine  in  the  cvenin;; 
they  commenced  their  distressing  march,  carrying  five  wound- 
»-»  -_-.-  iri  it»*i»s«a.  and  Runnfsrfi'no-  twQ  or  three  more:  and  liad 
not  proceeded  rnore  than*eight'^milea,  #hen  the  men  became 


K  2 


(ft 


.«4;.^-J._ 


0 


**- 


HISTORY   OF  THK  WAU- 


pericctly  exhausted  from  hunger  and  fatigue,  and  were  unable  \ 
*.o  carry  the  wounded  any  farther.  ' 

This  hasty  retreat  was  peculiarly  unfortunate;  for  they  had 
not  lef  the  breast  work  more  than  two  hours  when  twqpty-five 
horsemen  with  provisions,  arrived  to  their  relief,  on  a  different 
road  from  the  one  they  had  taken,  but  finding  the  place  desert- 
ed they  retunxd  to  St.  John's,  two  men  that  had  been  despatch- 
ed on  the  path  the  horsemen  came,  by  some  means  or  other 
missing  them.  They  again  constructed  a  plan  of  defence,  and 
a  Serjeant  major  with  one  private  was  despatched  to  Picalataj 
to  learn  what  had  occasioned  the  delay  of  the  supplies. 

Here  once  more  the  spirit  of  insubordination  began  to  display 
itself,  and  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Newnan  was  com- 
pelled again  to  order  the  march.    T"  ey  had  scarcely  marched 
five  miles,  however,  before  the  front  of  the  detachment  disco- 
vered the  heads  of  several  Indians  on  both  sides  of  the  path« 
from  among  son»e  trees  that  had  been  laid  prostrate  by  s.  hur- 
ricane; at  the  same  instant  the  enemy  fired  upon  the  advanced 
ixmy,  and  shot  down  four  of  them,  one  of  whom  died  on  the 
spot,  and  two  survived  but  a  few  days.  The  moment  the  firing 
was  heard,  the  detachment  was  ordered  to  charge,  and  the  In- 
dians were  completely  defeated  in  15  minutes,  many  dropping 
their  gims,  and  all  running  pff  without  attempting  to  rally.— 
Four  of  them  were  left  dead  on  the  field.  The  detachment  lay 
on  the  battle  ground  all  night,  and  next  day  marched  five  miles, 
when  they  again  threw  m^  breast-works  between  two  ponds, 
iivilik  "PO"  gophers,  alligators,  and  palmetto  stocks,  until  the 
a#lval  of  the  provisions  and  Uorses,  when  they  were  enabled 
to  proceed  to  St.  John's.     The  number  of  Indians  in  the  first 
engagement  was  from  75  to  100.     In  the  second  enga   emcnt 
their  number, (including  negroes,  who  are  their  best  soldiers) 
was  double  that  of  the  Americans;  and  in  the  third  engage- 
ment there  appeared  Ui.be  50,  which  was  nearly  equai  to  then- 
force,  after  deducting  the  >ick  and  wounded.     The  number  oi 
killed  and  wounded  jimong  the  Indians  must  have  been  aUeast 

fifty.  '    '.    '     , 

Ai^ther  expedition  of  volunteers  was  sent  agamst  those 
.  Indians  from  the  state  of  Tennessee  in  the  month  of  February, 
1813,  by  whom  they  were  defeated  in  three  engagements,  and 
38  killed,  a  number  wounded,  and  seven  taken  prisoners.  The 
detachment  then  burnt  their  settlements  to  the  number  of  386 
houses,  destroyed  several  thousand  bushels  of  corn^,  and  took 
400  horses,  and  aljout  the  same  number  of  cattle.  The  indiaub 
tniircly  disappeared  before  the  detachment  left  the  settlement/ 
In  the  three  engagements  the  Americans  last  only  one  killed 
and  seven  wounded. 


»»I» 


illSTOHY  OF  THE  WAR. 


SI 


r  they  had 
Lwqiity-five 
a  different 
ice  desert- 
1  despatch- 
IS  or  other 
efence,  and 
to  Picalataj 
lies. 

n  to  display 
n  was  coni- 
ly  marched 
tnent  disco - 
jfthe  path, 
e  by  A  hui - 
le  advanced 
Ued  on  the 
nt  the  firing 
and  the  In- 
ny  dropping 
J  to  rally. — 
achment  lay 
d  five  miles, 

two  ponds, 
18,  until  the 
ere  enabled 

in  the  first 
5nga  emcnt 
est  soldiers) 
lird  engage- 
quai  to  their 
e  number  oi 
been  a^  least 

gainst  those 
of  February, 
jements,  and 
soners.  The 
imber  of  386 
m,  and  took 
The  indiaub 
e  setllement/ 
ly  one  killed 


We  have  never  seen  the  real  value  of  the  militia,  tind  at  the 
same  time  their  total  inadequacy  in  their  present  state,  more 
strikingly  exemplified  than  in  the  official  narratives  oT  those 
Indian  expeditions.  The  materiel,  the  stamina  of  the  militia, 
( annot  be  surpassed;  but  as  to  all  other  military  requisi,tes 
they  are  totally  worthless.  When  we  see  them  encountering; 
fatigue,  cold  and  hunger,  without  a  murmur,  and  dispkying  in 
battle  the  most  undaunted  bravery  and  resolution,  we  cannot  but 
lament  that  all  those  valuable  qualities  should  be  rendered  of 
none  effect  by  the  total  want  of  subordination  and  discipline, 
without  which,  zeal,  numbers,  and  courage  avail  nothing. 

It  rests  with  the  national  legislature  to  apply  the  remedy  to 
this  evil.  The  constitution  has  clothed  them  with  the  power, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  they  will  no  longer  refuse  to  make  use  of 
It.  The  system  ought  either  to  be  abolished  altogether,  as  a 
most  extravagant  waste  of  time  or  money,  or  it  ought  to  be 
made>(and  it  is  surely  capable  of  being  made  so)  a  powerful 
und  certain  means  of  national  defence,  by  a  proper  system  of 
national  instruction. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Constitution  frigate  at  Boston  after  the 

pture  of  the  Guerriere,  captain  Hull  received  permission  to 


ra 


remain  on  shore  for  the  settlement  of  his  affairs,  and  commo- 
dore Bainbridge  was  appointed  to  command  in  his  room.    Af- 
ter undergoing  the  necessary  repairs,  she  sailed  on  a  cruize  to 
the  East  Indies,  towards  the  end  of  October,  accompanied  by 
the  Hornet  sloop  of  war,  commanded  by  captain  Lawrence; 
but  in  running  down  the  coast  of  the  Brazils,  they  found  the 
Bonne   Citoyenne,  a  British   ship  of  war,  loaded  with  specie, 
lying  in  the  port  of  St.  Salvador.    The  Bonr  e  Citoyenne  was 
a  larger  vessel,  and  had  a  greater  force  both  in  guns  and  men 
than  the  Hornet;  but  so  eager  was  captain  Lawrence  to  engage 
her,  that  he  sent,  through  the  American  consul  at  St,  Salvador, 
a  challenge  to  her  commander,  captain  Greene,  pledging  his 
honour  that  neither  the  Constitution,  nor  any  other  American 
vessel  should  interfere.     This  pledge  was  confirmed  by  com- 
modore Bainbridge,  who,  to  show  his  sincerity,  left  the  Hornet 
before  St.  Salvador,  and  sailed  on  another  cruize.     The  com- 
mander of  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  however,  did  not  see  fit  to  ac- 
cept of  the  challenge,  but  suffered  himself  to  be  blockaded  by 
the  Hornet. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  a  few  days  after  leaving  St.  Sal- 
vador, about  ten  leagues  from  the  coast  of  Brazil,  at  nme  in  the 
morning,  Bainbridge  discovered  IWoakliaTige  Sail,  one  oi  ivhich 
stood  in  for  the  land,  the  other  off  shore  towards  the  Consti- 
'ution.  At  half  past  eleven,  the  private  signal  for  the  day  be- 
ll 


rf^ 


-n 


S3 


HISTORY  OF  THT-,  WAR. 


:t!Jv 


inc  made,ananot  answered,  it  was  concluded  she  "M  an  en«.( 
my.  The  American  ensign  was  hoisted  at  twelve,  and  short!,  I 
after  the  enemy  hoisted  her  colours.  About  half  past  mie, 
the  vessel  being  perceived  to  be  a  British  fr  gate,  Bainbridg. 
tSsh  p,  and  stood  towards  her,  when  she  immediately  bore 
downwhUhe  intention  of  raking,  which  was  avoided  by  wear, 
ing.  At  two,  the  enemy  being  then  within  half  a  mile  of  the 
Constitution,  and  t.  windward,  and  having  hauled  down  her  co- 
tours  except  the  union,  Bainbridge  ordered  a  gun  to  be  fired 
ahead  of  her  to  make  her  show  her  colours,  which  was  follow- 
edby  abroldside;  on  which  the  enemy  hoisted  her  colours  and 

immediately -eturned  the  fire.  ^  „j  ,„j  „«to- 

A  eeneral  action  now  comn^  need  with  round  »nd  grape- 
shot,  the  British  frigate  keeping  at  a  much  greater  distance 
than  the  commodorl  wished,  but  he  cou.d  notbnng  her  .0 
closer  action  without  exposing  his  ship  to  beyig  raked  A 
number  of  manoeuvres  were  now  made  by  both  vessels  to  obJ 
tain  a  raking  position,  during  which  the  wheel  of  the  Constf- 
uUon  was  shot  entirely  away.  Bainbridge  now  dptenni..«d  to 
close  with  the  enemy  notwithstanding  the  dang"  ^^""1  ™k- 
ed,  and  accordingly  set  the  fore  and  mamsail,  and  luffed  upj 

close  to  her.  ,    .  i^*«i..  „: 

About  4  o'clock,  the  fire  of  the  enemy  being  completely,  si- 
lenced,and  her  colours  in  the  main  rigging  being  down,  it 
w^s  supposed  she  had  struck,  and  the  Constitution  shot  ahead 
to  rep  Jr  the  rigging,  leaving  the  «^«^y  ^  ^°Ji;f  f^^J^^^^^^^^ 
was  shortly  after,  however,  discovered  the  colours  wmj 

still  fly  in  J?;  and  accordingly,  after  repairing  some  of  the  damage, 
the  Constitution  took  a  position  across  the  enemy's  bows  in 
order  to  rake  her,  but  this  she  prudently  avoided  by  striking  | 

^^^B^nbridKe  now  sent  his  first  lieutenant  on  board  the  prize,! 
which  proved  to  be  the  Java,  a  frigate  of  the  same  «;tc>  as  the 
Guerriere  and  Macedonian,  but  with  a  much  larger  compk- 1 
mcnt  of  men,  having  had  upwards  of  400  on  board  at  the  com- 
mencement  ^f  the  action,  100  of  them  being  supernumerarie 
intended  for  the  British  ships  of  war  in  the  East  Indies.  Ther 
was  also  on  board  lieutenant-general  Hislo^),  aPP^^J^^^^.  ^^/.^  1 
command  of  Bombay,  major  Walker  and  captain  Wood  of  h^ 
staff,  and  captain  Marshall,  master,  and  commander  m  the 
British  navy,Vng  tojhe  E-t  Indie s^ot.ke-^^^^^^^^^         a] 
sloop  of  war  iherc.      iac  i,uui..iaiiuwi  ,.«3  -^r^i-.^^r-  ^  ---       -  _■ 
very  distinguished  ofllcer,  who  was  mortally  wounded  m  the 

**^ The  action  lasted  an  hour  and  fifty-five  minutes,  in  which 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAH. 


53 


was  an  cue- 
and  shortly 
If  past  one, 
,  Bainbridge 
idiately  bore 
led  by  wear* 
I  mile  of  the 
lown  her  co- 
i  to  be  fired 
I  was  follow- 
p  colours  and  | 

i  ?nd  grape- 
Iter  distance' 
bring  her  to 
g  raked.  A 
essels  to  obj 
f  the  Const 
l0termi»*«dto| 
of  being  rak- 
ing luffed  up  I 

ompletely,  si- 
sing  down,  it 
on  shot  ahead  I 
ete  wreck.  It! 
colours  were 
>f  the  damage,] 
my's  bows  in 
d  by  striking  I 

ard  the  prize, 
fie  rp.tij  as  the 
irger  comple- 
•d  at  the  com- 
[)ernumeraries 
Indies.  There 
pointed  to  the 
»  Wood  of  his 
nander  in  the 
:ommand  of  a 
sin  L?a*nbertt  ^ 
ounded  in  the 


utes,  m 


whicli 


■ 
ime  the  Java  was  completely  dismasted,  not  having  a  spar  of 
any  kind  standing.     She  had  been  fitted  out  in  the  most  com- 
I  pl'te  manner,  and  had  copper  on  board  for  a  74  and  two  brigs 
building  at  Bombay;  but  the  great  distance  from  our  coast,  and 
he  disabled  slate  of  the  vessel,  forbidding  every  id.ea  of  at- 
tempting to  take  her  to  the  United  States,  after  removing  the 
prisoners  and  their  baggage,  she  was  set  on  fire,  and  soon  af- 
ter blew  up.  ,.,,1        J    n 

The  loss  on  board  the  Constitution  was  9  killed  and  25 
wounded.  The  loss  on  board  the  Java  could  not  be  exactly 
ascertained,  as  the  officers  were  extremely  cautious  in  speak- 
inc  hi  the  number  of  her  crew.  Commodore  Bainbridge  states 
it  at  60  killed  and  101  wounded  certainly;  by  a  letter  written  on 
board  the  Constitution  by  one  of  tne  ofiicers  of  the  Java,  and 
accidentally  found,  the  number  was  -stated  to  be  60  killed  and 

iro  wounded.  ,      o    e  i       • 

After  blowing  up  the  Java,  Bainbridge  returned  to  bt.  Salva- 
dor, where  he  landed  all  the  prisoners  on  their  parole,  to  the 
number  of  361,  exclusive  of  nine  Portuguese  seamen  who  were 
liberated  and  given  up  to  the  governor  of  St.  Salvador,  and 
three  passengers,  private  characters,  whom  the  commodore 
did  not  consider  prisoners  of  war 

On  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  boats  of  both  vessels  m 
tl\e  action,  nothing  was  taken  from  on  board  the  Java  except 
Ike  prisoners  and  their  baggage,  the  whole  of  which  was  giv^n 
up  to  them.  Among  other  valuable  articles  given  up  was  a 
chest  of  plate,  which  had  been  presented  to  general  Hislop  by 
the  colonel  of  Demerara.  Commodore  Bainbridge  received 
the  public  acknowledgements  of  the  governor  of  St.  Salvador, 
as  well  as  of  his  prisoners,  for  the  kind  treatment  and  benefi- 
cence which  he  displayed  on  this  occasion. 

The  Constitution  again  left  St.  Salvador  on  the  6th  of  Janua- 
ry, and  arrived  at  Boston  about  the  middle  of  February. 
'  Meanwhile  the  Hornet  blockaded  the  Bonne  Citoyenne,  un- 
til the  24th  of  January,  when  the  Montague,  a  74  gun  ship, 
hove  in  sight  and  chased  her  into  the  harbour;  but  night  com- 
ing o-  she  wore  and  stood  out  to  the  southward.  Knowing 
ihgit  she  had  left  Rio  Jancii-o  for  the  express  purpose  of  reliev- 
ing the  Bonne  Citoyenne  and  the  packet  which  Lawrence  had 
also  blockaded  for  14  days,  and  obliged  her  to  send  her  mail  to 
Rio  Janeiro  in  a  Portuguese  smack,  he  judged  it  most  prudent 
to  shift  his  cruising  ground,  and  accordmgly  shaped  his  course 

:nglish  brig  Resolution,  of  10  guns,  laden  with  provisions  and 
bout  823,000  in  specie;  but  as  she  sailed  dull,  and  he  could 


^ 


■«.i 


54 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


nui 


,!i: 


not  spare  hands  to  roan  her,  he  took  out  the  money  and  crew, 

and  set  her  on  fire.     He  then  ran  down  the  coast  for  Moran. 

ham,  and  cruised  there  a  short  time,  and  thence  ran  oif  bun- 

nam!  After  cruising  ofT  that  coast  from  the  15th  to  the  22d  of 

February,  without  meeting  a  vessel  he  stood  for  Demarm 

Next  miming  he  discovered  a  b^g  to  leeward,  which  he  cha^^ 

ed  so  near  the  shore  that  he  was  obliged  to  haul  off  for  want  of 

a  pilot.  Previous  to  giving  up  the  chase,  however,  he  discoT- 

Jed  a  vessel  at  anchor  without  the  bar  of  Demarara  river,  with 

tke  English  colours  flying,  apparently  a  brig  of  war.  ^J^}^m 

ine  around  Carabona  bank,  in  order  to  get  at  her,  at  half  past 

three  in  the  afternoon,  he  discovered  another  sail  On  his^wea. 

ther  quarter,  edging  down  for  him.    At  20  mmutes  past  4  sk 

hoisted  English  cqlours,  when  she  was  discovered  to  be  a  large 

man  of  war  brig.      The  Hornet  was  immediately  cleared  for 

action,  and  kept  close  to  the  wind,  in  order,  if  possible,  to  get 

the  weather  guage.     At  5  minutes  past  10,  finding  he  could 

weather  the  enemy,  Lawrence  hoisted  American  colours,  tack- 

ed,  and  shortly  after  exchanged  broadsides  with  the  British 

ship,  within  half  pistol  shot.    Observing  the  enemy  ^^^^^m 

of  wearing,  Lawrence  now  bore  up,  received  his  starboard 

broadside;  ran  him  close  on  board  on  the  starboard  q<»arterd 

and  kept  up  such  a  heavy  and  well  directed  fire,  thatlin  less 

than  1 5  minutes  the  British  struck  their  colours,  and  hoisted 

an  ensign,  union  down,  from  their  fore  rigging,  as  a  signal  et 

lieutenant  Shubrick*  was  immediately  sent  on  board  thj 
nrize,  which  proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Peacock,  commandl 
ed  by  captain  William  Peake,  who  fell  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
action.     Shubrick,  on  getting  on  board,  found  that  a  numbei 
of  her  crew  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  that  she  was  smKl 
iuK  fast,  being  literally  cut  to  pieces,  aud  having  six  feet  water 
in  her  hold.      Both  vessels  were  immediately  brought  to  as. 
chor,  and  the  Hornet's  boats  dispatched  to  bring  off  the  wound- 
ed; but  although  her  guns  were  thrown  overboard,  the  shot! 
holes  that  could  be  got  at  plugged  and  every  exertion  martJI 
by  pumping  and  bailing  to  keep  her  afloat  until  the  prisonenl 
could  be  removed,  all  proved  ineffectual,  and  she  si»ik  m  five| 
and  a  half  fathoms  water,  carrying  down  13  of  her  crew,  awl 
three  sailors  belonging  to  the  Hornet,  who  were  nobly  riskingl 
their  lives  for  the  safety  of  the  vanquished  foe.    A  lieutenanti 


«  Lieutenant  Shubrick  hat  had  the  good  fortune  ib  Uin  <Af| 
actions  ivith  the  Guerriere^  JavOy  dhd  Feafock. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAll. 


* 
€' 


55 


;y  and  crew,i 
for  Mcranl 
an  oif  Suri-I 

0  the  22d  o(| 
r  Demaran.l 
lich  he  chasf 
ff  for  want  oil 
r,  he  discoT- 
ra  river,  withl 
ar.  In  beatf 
,  at  half  pastl 

1  on  his  weal 
;s  past  4  she! 
i  to  be  a  largtj 
ly  cleared  fori 
ssible,  to  get! 
ling  he  couldl 
colours,  tack-l 
:h  the  Britishl 
my  in  the  aptl 
his  starboard 
)ard  qtiarterJ 

that  fin  lessl 
,  and  hoistedl 
as  a  signal  ef| 

on  board  thi 
;k,  command- 
tcr  part  of  the] 
that  a  number 
she  was  sink' 
six  feet  water 
jronght  to  an 
off  the  wound'l 
oard,  the  sh 
exertion  made 
I  the  prisonen 
je  si»»k  in  five] 
her  crew,  afrf 
J  nobly  risking 
A  lieutenant 


andotherofficersandmcnofthe  Hornet  employed  in  remov- 
ino.  the  prisoners,  with  difficulty  saved  themselves,  by  jumpmg 
«fo  a  boat  that  was  lying  on  her  booms  as  she  went  down. 
Four  of  the  1 3  of  the  crew  of  the  Peacock,  mentioned  as  being 
5n  her  when  she  went  down,  were  so  fortunate  as  to  gain  the 
fnre!toD,  and  were  afterwards  taken  off  by  the  boats.  Previ- 
aus  to  her  going  down,  four  of  her  men  took  to  her  stei-n  boat, 
that  had  been  much  damaged  during  the  action,  and  it  if  hop- 
Treached  the  shore  in  safety;  but  from  the  heavy  sea  run- 
nine  at  the  time,  the  shattered  state  of  the  boat,  and  the 
difficulty  of  landing  on  the  coast,  it  is  more  than  probable  that 

%^hl  e^xacTnumber  of  killed  on  board  the  Peacock  could  not 
be  ascertained  from  h  er  officers.  Captain  Peake  and  four  men 
were  found  dead  on  board  by  the  Americans;  the  master,  one 
m  dshipman,  carpenter,  captain's  clerk,  and  29  seamen  were 
wounded,  most  of  them  severely,  three  of  whom  died  of  their 
wounds  after  being  removed.  On  board  the  Hornet  there  was 
onlv  one  killed  and  two  wounded  by  the  enemy,  but  two  men 
were  severely  burnt  by  the  explosion  of  a  cartridge  during  the 
action,  one  of  whom  survived  but  a  few  days.  Her  riggu»g  and 
sails  were  much  cut,  a  shot  passed  through  the  foremast,  and 
the  bowsprit  was  sUghtly  injured;  her  hull  received  little  or  no    . 

'^^The  Peacock  was  deservedly  styled  one  of  the  finest  vessels 
of  her  class  in  the  British  navy.  Her  tonnage  was  supposed  to 
be  about  equal  to  that  of  the  Hornet.  Her  beam  Was  greater 
by  five  inches;  but  her  extreme  length  not  so  great  by  four 
feet  She  mounted  sixteen  24  pound  carronades,  two  long 
nine's,  one  twelve  pound  carronade  on  her  top-gallant  forecastle 
as  a  shifting  gun,  and  one  four,  or  six  pounderand  two  swivels 
mounted  aft.  Her  crew  consisted  of  134  men,  four  of  whom 
were  absent  in  a  prize.  ''W-\   •  \i    .t 

During  the  engagement,  the  L'Espiegle,  the  brig  that  Law- 
rence bad  been  endeavouring  to  reach  before  the  Peacock  ap- 
peared, which  mounted  16  thirty-two  pound  carronades,  and 
two  lona  nines,  lay  about  six  miles  distant,  and  could  plamly  see 
the  whole  of  the  action.  Apprehensions  were  entertained, 
that  she  would  beat  out  to  the  assistance  of  her  consort,  and 
therefore  such  exertions  were  made  in  repairing  damages,  that 
by  nine  o'clock  the  boats  were  stowed  away,  a  new  set  ot  sails, 
bent,  and  the  ship  completely  ready  for  action.    She,  however. 


-"■  declined  coming  out,  nrm  ait^vu m  uiw  mu; 


^^v^.-ai  t\\f>    \-XciVTi"t   cot 


•li-^ 

■'i' 


ineWB^thM^^^'^^ 


T\ 


he  morninff  a 


ft(^r  tbf  action,  Lawrence  found  that  he  had 


5* 


IllSTOHY  OF  THR  WAH. 


«' 


277  souls  on  board,  and  therefore,  as  his  own  crew  had  bee« 
on  two-thirds  allowance  of  provisions  for  some  time,  and  hisi 
supply  of  water  was  but  scant,  he  determined  to  make  the  besil 
of  his  way  to  the  United  States.    He  arrived  at  Holmes'  Hole 
on  the  19th  of  March,  and  a  few  days  after  proceeded  dom\ 
the  sound  to  New  York.  I 

The  kindness  and  hospitality  shown  by  captam  Lawrence  and 
"his  officers  to  his  unfortunate  prisoners,  was  such  as  to  penef 
trate  them  with  the  most  lively  gratitude,  which  the  officers  ex- 
pressed  shortly  after  their  arrival  by  a  public  letter  of  thanks. 
*«  So  much,"  say  they,  «  was  done  to  alleviate  the  distressing 
and  uncomfortable  situation  in  which  we  v^re  placed  when 
received  on  board  the  sloop  you  command,  tlAt  we  cannot  bet- 
ter  express  our  feelings  than  by  saying  *  We  ceased  to  con- 
sider  ourselves  prisoners;'  and  every  thing  that  friendship 
could  dictate  was  adopted  by  you  and  the  officers  of  the  Hor-I 
net,  to  remedy  the  inconvenience  we  would  otherwise  have  ex- 
perienced from  the  unavoidable  loss  oi  the  whole  of  oui  pro- 
perty  and  clothes,  by  the  sudden  sinking  of  the  Peacock." 

Nor  was  the  crew  of  the  Hornet  a  whirbehind  their  superi. 
ors  in.  that  noble  generosity  which  ever  accompanies  true  brav- 
cry.  As  the  sailors  of  the  Pe-^cock  had  lost  every  thing  ex- 
ccpt  what  they  had  on  their  backs  when  she  went  down,  our 
American  tars  united  to  relieve  them,  and  made  every  English] 
sailor  a  present  of  two  shirts,  a  l?4ue  jacket,  ar  i  a  pair  ot  trow- 

sers. 

The  frigate  Chesapeake,  commanded  by  captain  EvanU 
sailed  from  Boston  abort  the  middle  of  November  on  a  cruize! 
From  Boston  she  ran  down  by  Madeira,  the  Canary,  and  Cape 
de  Verd  Islands;  thence  to  the  equator,  between  longitude  25° 
and  15®  W.,  where  she  cruized  six  weeks.     She  then  sailed 
along  the  coast  of  South  America,  and  passed  within  fifteen | 
leagues  of  Surinp^n.     Thence  she.  passed  through  the  wind-i 
ward  islands  to  the  coast  of  the  United  States;  near  the  capes 
of  Virginia,  and  thence  along  the  coast  to  Boston,  where  she 
arrived  on  the  10th  of  April,  after  a  cruize  of  115  days.     Dur- 
ing this  crr*'ze  she  took  an  American  brig,  sailing  under  an 
English  license,  and  three  British  vessels,  one  of  which  she 
burnt  after  ta&ing  out  the  crew  and  cargo.     On  the  first  of 
January,  off  the   Western  Islands,  she  discovered  two  large 
sail  bearing  down  on  her,  apparently  ships  of  war,  and  lay  tool 

UiVlii    liCdF    CiiviU^ii    t.w    ttOwCiuaiSJ    iiiii;,    ^::vj     ..t-rr    ^-.    - 

gate,  when  she  made  all  sail  and  escaped.     Off  the  capes  ot 
Virginia,  about  ten  days  before  her  arrival,  she  gave  chase  to " 
a  sloop  of  war,  and  continued  chasing  for  two  day*,  when  it 
escaped  in  the  night. 


^KiSraHY  OF  THE  WAR. 


57 


>rhe  CheSSficake  continued  in  Boston  harbour  untirOie  first 
.  f  tune  the X  of  her  unioriunato  rencontre  with  the  Shaiinon. 
f.itahi  Lawrlnce.  of  tl.e  Hornet  bad  a  short  time  previous 
be^n  appo^Ted  to  command  the  Chesapeake,  and  hardly  had 
hearrSat  Boston,  when  the  Shannon,  commanded  by  cap- 
lairBiX,  appeared  off  the  harbour,  with  the  avowed  purpose 

thUoS  resolved  to  make  an  effort^^ri^ve  them;  .and 
'vhen  he  deemed  his  ship  perfectly  pi^pa«^  for  that  purpote, 
H^nt  a  formal  challenge  to  captain  Lawrence. 

«  *  As  the  Chesapeake,'  his  letter  began,*  appears  now  ready 
fnn  «Pa  I  reauest  vou  will  do  me  the  favour  to  meet  the  shan- 
non wUh  hetship  to  ship,  to  try  the  fortune  of  our  respective 
Cs    To  an  kcer  of  your  character,  it  requires  r  ome  apology    ^ 
Proceeding  to  further  particulars.     Be  assured,  sir,  that  it 
U  not  fr^  an|  doubtl  entertain  of  your  wkhing  to  close  with 
«^^       but  merely  to  provide  an  answer  to  any  obiection 
thlt  mi«hl  be  made,  and  very  reasonably,  upon  the  chance  of 
our  rTcTving  unfair  support/  After  observing  that  commodore 
to^^cvrhld^^^  accepted  several  verbal  challenges  which  he 
h^  liven,  captain  Broke  then  proceeds  to  state  very  minutely 
the  force  of  the  Shannon,and  offers  to  send  al^  British  ships 
out  of  reach,  so  that  they  might  have  a  fair  combaV  at  any  place 
w  tWn  a  cer  ain  range  along  the  coast  of  New  England  which 
he  specified;  if  more  agreeable,  he  offers  to  sail  together,  and 
I  ito  warn  the  Chesapeake,  by  means  of  private  signals,  of  the  ap- 
'*   proaehof  British  ships  of  war,  till  they  reach  some  solitary 
snot-^rto  sail  with  a  fliig  of  truce  to  any  place  out  of  t lie 
reach  of  British  aid,  so  tkt  the  flag  should  b^liauled  down 
when  it  was  deemed  fair  to  begin  hosiilitK^^i. ^4  entreat  you, 
sir/  he- concludes,  *n(?t  to  imagin-,  that  LaA  urged  by  mere 
personal  vanity  to  the  wish  of  meeang  the.phesapeak6,or  that 
I  depend  only  upon  youf  personal  atnbition  for  your  acceding 
to  this  invitation.     W^vc  both  nobler  motives.     You  will 

feel  it  as  a  compli^ldHPl  ^^K^^*^*^  ^^^  ^^"^^  °^  °"''  ™^*'^'"^' 
nwy  be  the  most  gi^M  servicf.l  can  render  to  my  country; 
and  I  doubt  not  that  #«,  (equally  confident  of  success,  will  Icel 
convinced  that  it  is  only  by  ri^peated  triumphs  in  even  combats, 
that  your  little  navy  can  now  hope  to  console  your  country  tor 
the  loss  of  that  trade  it  can  no  longer  protect.'    ^ 

«  The  style  of  this  letter,  with  the  exception  ol  t^e  puerile  j| 
bravado  about,  cotiuuociun- i^^vigi^i",  i-i^-i...  -:"-  j"  "'""'',  rv"  1 
ifthe  force  of  the  Shannon  were  correctly  stated;  would  be  -  ^ 
^ucb  a^cliallenge  as  might  well  be  sent  from  abrave  scamarvto 

F 


■.:'*■ 


aS 


HISTORY  OlK^»K  WAR* 


;4 


m 


a  gallant  advers 
thut  captain  Bre' 
gun$aml  crewji 
ceived  additions 
I  Kan  the  number 


.Ai 


We,  however, are  but  twoHI^  satisfied, 

dioasly  underrated  tlie  number  of  his 

^.at,  after  his  challenge,  he  must  have  re- 

i|)Qth.    That  the  Shannon  had  more  guns 

iMed  by  hci  commander,  we  learn  from  the 

testimony  of  the  surviving  officers  of  the  Chesapeake;  who 
also  assert,  that  she  had  three  hundred  and  seventy-six  men; 
that  she  had.  an  officer  and  sixteen  men  from  the  Belle  Poule; 
and  that  the  hats  ^f  s^mc  of  her  seamen  were  marked  *  Tene- 
dos.*     Such  as  it  was,  however,  this  letter,  most  unfortunately, 
never  reached  captain  Lawrence.  If  he  had  received  it;  if  he 
had  been  thus  warned  to  prepare  his  ship;  if  he  had  had  an 
opportunity  of  selecting  his  officers,  and  disciplining  his  crew; 
if,  in  short,  he  had  been  able  to  place  the  Chesapeake  on  any 
t  hitig  like  equal  terms  with  the  Shannon,  the  combat  might 
have  been  more  bloody — there  might   have  been  such  an  en- 
gagement as  has  not  yet  been  seen  between  single  ships  on  the 
ocean;  though  we  cannot  suffer  ourselves  to  doubt  the  result 
of  it.  But  he  knew  nothing  of  this  challenge— he  saw  only  the 
Shannon  riding  before  him  in  defiance;  he  remembeied  the 
spirit  with  which  he  himself  overawed  a  superior;  and  he  could 
not  brook  for  a  moment,  that  an  enemy,  which  seemed  to  be 
his  equal   should  insult  his  flag.     Although,  therefore,  the 
Chesapeake  was  comparatively  an  inferior  ship — although^  his 
first  lieutenant  was  sick  on  shore — although  three  of  his  lieu- 
tenants had  recently  left  her;  and  of  the  four  who  remained,  two  .. 
were  only  midshipmen,  acting  as  lieutenants— although  p^t  of 
his  crew  were  new  hands,  and  all  of  them  bad  lost  lott^e  ot 
their  discipline  by  staying  in  port-TP|fit,ashe  would  have  gone 
to  sea  in  thai  situation  had  no  ene^uy  appeared,  he  felt  himself 
bound  not  to  dels^y  Bailing  on  that  acccn^t,  and  throwing  him- 
self, therefore,  on  his  courage  and  hi8%tune,  he  determined 
at  once  to  attack  the  enemy.     It  \vas*on  tiie  morning  of  the  1  st 
ot  June,  1813,  that  theChesapeak^^d»<s>utof  the  harbour  ot 
Boston  to  ntlet  die  Shaimon.  As  alMpihe  got  under  weigh, 
cautain  Lawrence  called  the  crew  t^HMjif^  having  hoisted 
the  while  flag,  wit^  the  mottoof  '  f^MK^d  sailors'  rights,' 
made  a  short  address.  His  speech  hi^PR  was  received  with 
no  enthusiasm— on  the  contrary  signs  of  dissatisfaction  were 
evidem>  particularly  from  a  boatswain's'  mate,  a  Portuguese, 
who    seem€«l    to  be  at  the    head  of  the  malecontents;  and 
'_Uvi     --r.-.;.  -s,i.*^£j.*»jj_    ♦•Kat  tKfi»  Kad  luit   vcl  received 

~  their  prize-money.     SuclT expressions,  at  the  eve  of  an  action, 
Aveto  but  ill-bodings  of  the  result  of  it;  but  captain  Lawrence, 


pnorant  as  he  was  of  the  characters  of  his  sailors,  and  unwilling 


H19TQRY    Of    THK    WAR. 


S9 


t  ,nrh  a  m'ortent  to  damp  their  spirits  by  hMr»hnc*j|^servca 

hi  the  Durser  to  those  who  had  not  receivea  uicm.    ^vhi.st 

J»  cr^ne  was  passinK,  the  Shannon,  observing  the  Chesapeake 

this  ?^«"«,J**  P^L'T^'       The  Chesapeake  followed  her  till 

W^ciockin^ear^^^^^^^^  --^  ^-^^ 

lun  on  which  the  Shannon  hove  too.  They  tnanceuvered  for 
Lme  t"me,  till,  at  about  a  quarter  before  six,  they  approached 
Sin  pistol  shot  and  exchanged  broadsides. 

"Thest-broadsideswere  both  bloody;  but  the  fire  of  the 
Shannon  was  most  fortunate  in  the  destruction  of  oihcers.  The 
fouX  lieutenant,  Mr.  Ballard,  was  mortally  wounded-^he 
laUing-masterwas  killed,  and  captain  Lawrence  rece^d  am^- 
keSlHn  his  leg,  which  caused  great  ^^^^-^-fj^^^^t 
in?  but  he  leaned  on  the  companion  way,  and  continued  to  o 
der  and  to  animate  his  crew.  A  second,  and  a  third  broadside 
was  exchanged,  with  evident  advantage  on  the  pait  of  the 
Chesapeake;  but  unfortunately,  among  those  now  wounded  on 

carried  below— three  men  were  successively  shot  *io"»  the 
helm,  in  about  twelve  minutes  from  the  commencement  ol  the 
actio;  and,  as  the  hands  were  shifting,  a  shot  f -^:^^;^:^^^^^^ 

sail,  80  that  she  would  no  longer  ^"f^^^.^?^' ^^^#^  *^;^ J  ; 
chor  OftUght  in  on«  of  the  after  ports  of  the  S%nan,  whfca 
en^ed  tL  latter  to  rake  her  upp^r  deck.     As  socu.^  L:  w^ 
rence  perceived  that  she  was  falling  to  leeWard,and  that  by  the 
Shannon's  filling  she  would  fall  on  board,  he  called  \m  boaid- 
ers^d  was  givhig  orders  about  the  foresail  when  he  received 
a  musLTbalTin  his  body.    The  bugleman,  who  should  have 
called  the  boarders,  did  not  do  his  duty;  and  at  this  motnent 
commodore  Broke,  whose  ship  had  suftered  so  much  that  he 
was  preparing  to  repel  boarding,  perceiving  trom  tins  acci- 
dent  how  the  deck  of  the  Chesapeake  was  swept,  jumped  on 
board  with  about  twenty  men.   They  would  have  been  mstant- 
Iv  repelled;  but  the  captain,  the  first  lieuteB^n|,i  the  stining 
master,  the  boatswain,  the  lieutenant  of  marinff,  th^  oi, ly  aeung 
lieutenant  on  the  spar-deck,  were  all  killed  or  di.ab  ed.  At  the 
call  of  the  boarders,  lieutenant  (^o%  ran  ondeck,  but  just  in 
time  to  receive  his  falling  commander,  and  bear  him  below.— 
Lieutenant  Budd,  the  second  lieutenant,  led  up  the  boarders, 
but  only  fifteen  or  twenty  would  foUow  him,  and  with  these  he 
xlefended  the  ship  till  he  was  wounded  an<l  disabled.     Lieuten- 
ant Ludlow,  wounded  as  he  was,  hurried  upon  ucuk,  vyiicre  i.c 
soon  received  a  mortal  cut  from  a  sabre.    The  n^v.eF  wlio 
were  engaged  fought  with  desparate  courage;  but  they  were 


60 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAH. 


few  in  nyj^^j^n  too  many  dTtliclfriimVing  fblloweid  the  Poriu- 
p  jcse  bptswain's  mate,  who  exclaimed  it  is  said,  as  he  skulk- 
M  below,*  so  much  for  not  paying  men  iheir  prize-money.*— 
Meanwhile  the  Shannon  threw  on  board  sixty  additional  meny 
who  soon  succeeded  in  overpowering  the  seamen  of  the  Chesa- 
peake, who  had  now  no  officers  to  lead  or  rally  them,  and  took 
possession  of  the  ship;  which  was  not  however  surrendered 
fev  any  signal  of  submission,  but  became  the  enemy's  only  be- 
cause they  were  able  to  overwhelm  all  who  were  in  a  condition 

«  As  captain  Lawrence  was  carried  below,  he  perceived  the 
melancholy  condition  of  the  Chesapeake,hutcried  out,  <  Don't 
Ijive  up  the  ship.*    He  was  taken  down  into  the  ward-roora, 
and  as  he  lay  in  excruciating  pain,  perceiving  that  the  noise 
above  had  <:cased,  he  ordered  the  surgeon  to  go  on  deck,  and 
tell  the  officers  to  fight  on  to  the  last,  and  never  strike  the  co, 
lours.    *  They  shall  wave,'  said  he, « while  I  live.*    But  it  was 
too  late  to  resist  or  struggle  longer;  the  enemy  had  already 
possession  of  the  ship.    As  captain  Lawrence's  wounds  would 
jiot  allow  of  his  removal,  he  continued  in  the  ward-room,  sur- 
rounded by  his  wounded  officers,  and,  after  lingering  m  great 
pain  for  four  days,  during  which  his  sufferings  were  too  acuta 
to  permit  him  to  speak,  or  perhaps  to  think  of  the  sad  evxnts 
he  had  just  ^Vitnessed,or  do  more  than  ask  for  what  his  situa- 
lion  required,  he  died  on  the  5th  of  Jilhe.    Hisbody  w»«  wrap- 
ped  in  the  colours  of  the  Chesapeake,  and  laid  on  the  quarter 
deck,  until  they  arrived  at  Halifax,  where  he  was  buried  with 
the  highest  military  and  naval  honours;  the  Hritish  officers  tor- 
cettine  in  their  admiration  of  his  character,  that  he  had  been 
Wit  lately  their  enemy.     His  pall  was  supported  by  the  oldest 
captains  of  the  navy  then  at  Halifax,  and  no  demonstration  of 
respectful  attentioti  was  omitted  to  honour  the  remains  ot  a 
brave,.but  unfortunate  stranger.  ,     ^,  ,     i    *  u.. 

«ln  this  sanguinary  engagement  the  Chesapeake  lost  her 
eom.nandcr  and  forty-seven  men  killed,  and  ninety-seven 
wounded,  of  wbom  fourteen  afterwards  died.  Among  these 
were  lieutenant  Ludlow,  first  lieutenant  of  the  ship,  and  lieu- 
tenant Ballard,  the  fourth  lii^utenant,  both  excellent  ofhcers. 

tt  On  the  part  of  the  Shannon,  captain  Broke  was  dangerous- 
Iv  wounded,  though  he  has  since  recovered;  the  first  lieuten- 
ant, the  purser,  captain's  clerk,  and  twenty-three  seamen  kill- 
ed, and  fifty-seven  persons  wounded,  besides  captain  Broke. 

«  The  capture  of  the  Chesapeake  is  to  be  ascribed  wholly  to 
the  cxtraordinal7  loss  ofothcers  (a  loss  wiihout  uiiy  preceMv..i 
as  far  as  we  can  recollect,  in  i^aval  history);  and  to  her  falling 


HISTORY  OF  THE  XVAR. 


61 


accidentally  on  board  the  Shannon.  During  the  three  broad- 
sides while  the  officers  of  the  Chesapeake  were  living,  and 
she  was  kept  clear  of  the  enemy,  the  superiority  was  niaufest- 

V  wS  the  Americans.    The  Chesapeake  had  receiveu  scarce. 

V  any  damage,  while  the  Shannon  had  several  shot  between 
Jind  and  water,  and  could  with  difficulty  be  kept  aHoat  dunn,^ 
The  succeeding  night.  It  was  only  when  accident  threw  the 
Chesapeake  onboard  the  Shannon,  when  h-^^officers  were  un- 
a^,le  to  lead  on  the  boarders,  that  captain  Broke  himself,  cot. 
t  arv  we  believe,  to  the  regulations  of  the  British  navy,  lelt 
His  own  ship,  and  was  able,  by  superior  numbers,  to  overpower 
the  distracted  crew  of  the  Chesapeake. 

«  We  have  heard  many  accounts,  which  we  are  very  reluc- 
tantly compelled  to  bciieve,  of  improper  conduct  l)y  the  British 
after  the  capture,  and  of  brutal  violence  offered  to  the  crew  ot 
the  Chesapeake.  As,  however,  some  allowances  are  due  to 
the  exasperated  passions  of  the  moment,  somethmg  too  to  the 
confusion  of  a  bloody  and  doubtful  struggle,  we  are  unwilling 
to  prolong  the  remcmbranc^of  imputations  which  may  be  dis- 
proved, and  perhaps  have  been  exaggerated. 

«  But  we  should  wrong  the  memory  of  captam  Lawrence, 
wc  should  be  unjust  to  the  officers  of  the  American  navy,  with 
whose  glory  all  the  aspiring  ambition  of  the  country  is  so  close- 
Iv  blended,  if  we  omitted  any  opportunity  of  giving  the  last 
and  fairest  lustre  to  their  fame,  by  contrasting  their  conduct 
with  that  of  the  enemy,  or  if  we  forbear,  from  any  misplaced 
delicacy  towar<ls  our  adversaries,  to  report  circumstances  con^ 
nected  with  the  fate  of  the  Chesapeake,  which  throw  a  broad 
and  dazzling  light  on  the  generous  magnanimity  ot  our  coun- 

^^Omr"*readcrs  cannot  have  failed  to  observe  the_  liberjtUty 
which  was  extended  to  the  officers  and  crews  of  the  Gucrnere, 
Macedonian,  and  Java,  and  the  still  more  strikmg  ^stance  ot 
the  Peacock.    «  When  the  Chesapeake  was  taken  by  the  Shan- 
non, the  key  of  captain  Lawrence»s  store-room  was  demanded 
of  the  purser.    It  was  given;  but  the  purser  observed  at  the 
same  time,  that  in  the  captures  of  the  Guerriere,  Macedonian, 
and  Java,  the  most  scrupulous  regard  was  paid  to  the  private 
property  of  the  British  officers;  that  captain  Lawrence  had 
laid  in  stores  for  a  long  cruize;  and  that  the  value  of  them 
would  be  a  great  object  to  his  widow  and  family,  for  whose  use 
he  was  desirous,  if  possible,  of  preserving  them.    This  re- 
quest  was  not  merely  declined;  it  was  haughtily  and  super- 

ciliously  refused.  r  ,    .  j      .  ■     i 

«  However  we  may  mourn  the  sufferings  of  that  day,  the  loss 


62 


HlSTOUy    OF    THE  WAR. 


liiWHI 


of  the  Chesapeake  has  not,  in  our  estimation,  varied  the  relj 
live,  standing  of  the  marine  of  the  two  countries;  nor  does  it' 
abate,  in  the  slightest  degree,  any  of  the  loftiness  of  our  naval 
pretensions.     The  contest  was  wholly  unequal  m  ships,  m 
ffuns,  in  crews,  rti  officers,  in  every  thing. 

«  The  Shannon  was  a  better  ship;  she  had  not  upon  her  the 
curse  of  that  ill-omincd  name,  the  Chesapeake.  The  Shannon 
was  a  stronger  ship;  she  mounted  twenty-eight  eighteen  pound- 
ers  on  the  main  deck,  twenty-two  thirty-two  pound  carronades, 
and  two  long  brass  nines  or  twelves,  on  the  spar  deck,  and  a 
lartje  carronade  amidships,  in  all  //^t/-/wo  guns,  besides  this 
last  heavy  carronade;  while  the  Chesapeake  mounted  twenty- 
eight  eighteen  pounders  on  the  main  deck,  and  twenty  thirty- 
two  pound  carronades,  and  one  eighteen  pounder,  chase  gun, 
on  the  spar-deck,  in  all  forty-nine  guiis. 

«  The  Shannon  had  a  better  crew.    Besides  her  complement, ! 
she  had  seamen  from  two  other  ships.     That  crew,  too,  had 
been  long  at  sea;  long  in  the  ship;  were  known;  were  tried;  and 
as  commodore  Broke  sent  a  chalftnge,  were,  of  course,  men 
on  whom,  if  they  were  not  picked  for  the  occasion,  he  knew  he 
could  confide.     The  Chesapeake  had  on  the  contrary,  in  part, 
a  new  crew,  unknown  to  their  officers,  not  yet  knowing  theu- 
places  or  the  ship.     The  ship  h  xd  not  been  more  than  a  tew 
hours  at  sea,  and  the  landsmen  and  the  landswomen  had  been 
.lismissed  from  her  on  the  very  day  of  the  engagement.     T  l^e 
officers,  too,  although  we  should  uc  the  1^^^^.^°  ^^f  J^'jj^, 
their  merits,  and  although  the  manner  m  which  tliey  fought 
their  ship  does  them  the  highest  honour,  the  officers  were 
young  and  few  in  number,  and  had  as  yet  hardly  any  opportu- 
nitrof  disciplining  or  knowing  their  seamen;  yet  «nder  all 
these  disadvantages,  the  great  damage  sustained  by  the  Shan- 
non,  and  the  great  loss  of  her  crew,  all  which  took  p  ace  before 
the  l>oarding,  warrant  completely  the  opinion,  that,  but  tor  the 
accidental  loss  of  officers,  the  vigtory  would  have  been  with 

I    the  Chesapeake."*  -i^j  r..^tY» 

The  brig  Argus,  commanded  by^lieutenant  Allen,  sailed  from 

New  York  about  the  middle  of  May,  having  on  boara  Mr. 

Crawford,  our  minister  for  France.     She  arrived  ul  L  Orient 

on  the  12th  of  June,  and  shortly  after  sailed  on  a  cnuze. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  being  then  in  St.  George  s  channel 
where  she  had  made  a  number  of  captures,  she  was  discovered 
by  the  Pelican  sloop  of  war,  which  had  been  despatched  m 


•  Fort  Folio. 


HlSTOftY  OF  IHE  WAR 


65 


--"  or  he.;  As  soon  -„-^;f,^,f  ^ll^^^^^^^ 
'''"Tv:^^t^  mtiu^,  when  ^  -ti™  confmenced,  which 
^"'  Lnt  UD  wUWprU  on  both  sides  for  three  quarters  of  an 
was  kept"P*"  .*P",  .„,„  heino-  mortally  wounded,  and 
•^""'i-  trTv'  Sr"  led  a^d  wTuld^d  on  bUd  the  Argus, 
ritruc?  ht Tag      On  board  th.  Pelican  there  were  only 

two  killed  and  five  wounded.  action  has  not  been  re - 

As  the  American  account  of  thtsactm^^  ^^ 

ceived,  owing  probably  '"  **',*,,f  *'"  °„ '^e  are  not  able  to  state 
*'"=  !f"fhe  Sir"  Th:" '^thrPdic::  was  much  superior 
X^Xr^r:  therejs  m;^  ..om  to  .;U>ub.  Jhe  is^axed 
,,  two  g«ns  "n^re  than  ^^  A  g"s  ^d  }t  .s^^^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^^._ 
paper,  that  in  the  year  17»  ,  sic  circumstance 

'gate,,  after  an  action  of  two  hou'».     The  e  i  ^^^  ^^ 

mentioned  in  a  Cork  paper,  'oo,  yvm^  i  H 

"iew  in  the  official  account,  and  which,  ^""^;*»^,"^;*"X  ^, 

[he  honour  of  the  v-t-y^rCorrp  pe^'htm^^^^^^     ship 
the  acuon  closea,  'says  the  "fO  "i  Pape>.  Jj        g^,^,^ 

\S:^^S^^^^>^^Z^k^  foTct  wh-e^a 

'"A'C'drvs^aft^te'aciion,  lieutenant  Allen  died  of  lii* 
^  \„,H^ls  buried  at  Plymouth  with  the  honours  of  war. 
Tre'^ous  trLr"cire:  the  Argus  had  taken  19  vessels, 
most  of  them  in  St.  George's  Chan»eh  ^^ 

In  recording  the  ^  "f ''^^^'^^^^^^^^^^  command- 

•■^  '\IT  h^U    »w  tirrcord  a^event,  atfhe  remembrance 
7JI,  tea"  Tour  loss  mingle  with  exultations  for  our 

success.  t        4u^  TTmtM  States'  briK  Enter- 

on  the  fi^^t  °«  t^  ^";^::;,,*',^imamBur™^^^^  sailed  from 

c^:uT:ntt«nirm.^^^^^ 

rlt^LrcU^w^lsii^di^elj^.^^^^^^ 
S^'Sr"^e:=:;e^nglnd'reconnoitering  (or 


i  |1 


.ISf"*''^^ 


I 


64  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 

some  time,  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  the  force  of  the  ene- 
my,  Bun-ovs,  about  three  m  the  afternoon,  shortened  sail,  tack- 
ed and  ran  down,  with  the  intention  of  bringing  her  to  close 
action.  At  30  minutes  after  three  the  Bring  commenced  from 
both  vessels,  within  half  pistol  shot.  The  action  continued 
for  about  a  fjuarter  of  an  hour,  when  the  Enterprize  ranged 
ahead  of  the  enemy,  rounded  too,  and  raked  her.  Shortly  after 
the  main-top-mast  and  top-sail  yard  of  the  enemy  cairie  down. 
The  foresail  of  the  Enterprize  was  then  set,  and  she  took  a 
position  on  the  starboard  bow  of  the  enemy,  and  continued  to 
rake  her,  until,  about  40  minutes  after  the  commencement  of 
the  action,  the  enemy  ceased  firing,  and  cried  for  quarters; 
their  colii^s  being  nailed  to  the  masts,  could  not  be  hauled 

down,    ^p^' 

The  ^ze  proved  to  be  the  British  brig  Boxer,  of  14  guns. 
The  number  of  her  crew  could  not  be  ascertained,  but  64  pri- 
soners were  taken,  including  17  wounded.  Captain  Hull,  in  a 
letter  to  cdtaimodcre  Bainbridge,  describing  the  state  of  the 
Boxer  when  brought  into  port,  says  that  there  was  every  rea- 
son to  believe  that  there  were  100  men  on  board.  On  board 
the  Enteiprize  there  was  only  one  killed  and  thirteen  wound- 
ed, two  of  whom  died  of  their  wounds. 

Lieutenant  Burrows  f  11  in  the  commencement  of  the  action; 
he,  h^j^ver,  refused  to  be  carried  below,  but,  raising  his  head, 
requested  that  the  flag  might  never  be  struck.  When  the 
sword  of  the  vanquished  enemy  was  presented  to  the  dying 
conqueror,  be  clasped  his  hands  and  said,  "  I  am  satisfied;  1 
die  contented;"  and  then,  and  not  till  then,  would  he  consent 
to  be  carried  below,  where  every  attention  was  paid  to  save  his 
life,  but  in  vain.  A  few  hours  after  the  victory  he  breathed 
his  last.: — Captain  Blythe,  the  commander  of  the  Boxer,  also 
fell  in  the  commencement  of  the  action,  liaving  received  a 
cannon  shot  through  the  body.  His  remains,  in  company  with 
those  of  Burrows,  were  brought  to  Portland,  where  the  two 
commanders  were  interred,  side  by  side,  with  military  honours. 

The  Boxer  was  so  much  damaged  in  her  sails,  rigging, 
spat's,  hull,  &c.  as  to  render  it  difficult  to  carry  her  into  port. 
The  Enterprize  received  but  trifling  inj.ury.  On  an  examina- 
tion of  the  prize,  she  was  adjudged  wholly  to  be  the  captors, 
agreeably  to  law,  as  a  vessel  of  superior  force. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  the  President  frigate,  commanded  by 
commodore  Rodgeis  sailed  from  Boston.  On  the  30th  he  took 
his  departure  from  Fresidem  roads,  in  company  wiiii  the  v;oh- 
gress  commanded  by  captain  Smith.  On  the  3d  of  May,  while 
in  cUjfttte  of  a  British  brig  of  \^  ar»  near  the  shoal  of  George's 


Bank,  tl 

I  from  thei 

ed,  whe^ 

gate,  an< 

Bank  the 

of  the  so 

when  th 

[latter  be 

rican  m< 

his  cour 

enemy's 

Grand  1 

cept  Ar 

sued  a 

West  Ii 

iRg  any 

of  38  d< 

off  whi( 

June,  \ 

falling 

informi 

convoy 

crowd* 

ing  in 

tween 

Beii 

Rodgc 

with  \ 

nel,  b] 

pass  r 

ment, 

vessel 

nothii 

licenc 

bving 

previ 

ingly 

June 

bein| 

at  th 

inhal 

ter, 

then 

ing  \ 

wov^ 


HISTORY    OF    THE   WA^. 


65 


«rt 


gaU,  and  a  merchant  brig.     ^H"  gew  S  direction 

!  lank  they  continued  along  «»^{f»°™  the  8th  of  May, 

ofthe  southern  e<^S^°f  \''' 'f "1!„  *"*"  ,h  the  CongreM,  the 
i  «hen  the  President  Pf«^^^°™P;"i,Uh  proved  to  be  an  Ame- 

Mter  being  in  chase  ««  ^J^^^'^^^^^^^^a^y,  Rodgers  shaped 
'  rican  merchantman.   ^Rer  parting         y    ?     ^^  intercept  the 

his  course,  as  near  »';;^*r".Voa"sing  to  the  southward  ofthe 

enemy's  West  India  <=°™™*Xttu  anv  ?hinK  in  this  direction  ex- 
Grand  Bank.  Not  ™««"JS  «>th  any  thing  1  ^^  ^^^^ 

cept  American  vessels  ^""'J^'"'"^  »^°„,s  the  traek*  of  the 
sued  a  route  to  the  northward,  ^o  as  to  cro  ^^^_ 

Vest  India,  H^H^?^'' «"!\"' eTer  rftefi^achSig  the  latitude 
ing  any  thing  in  this  route,  ho«e'">  »'"  "to^^ard!  the  Azores, 
of^8  degrees  N.,  he  'W*'*^  *°  *\\^<^u*°ed  until  the  6th  of 
off  which,  in  different  '^'^.^X  ;^em,Trssel.  At  th«.  time, 
June,  without  meetmg  a  »'ng'f'S5 '„  Cadiz,  and  receiving 
falling  in  «i*  an  American  ship  bou^^^^^^  a„  enemy's 

information  that  »l>e  had,  four  days  betore^^  InglMid,  Rodger* 
convoy  from  'he  West  Ind.*s,  ^,J^^  'i^drsa?poi»wd '»  T' 
crowded  sail  to  the  N.  E-' »"°'.  *w"^^^^^  four  captui'es  be- 
ing in  with  the  convoy,  f  .^"^eless  maae  r     j,. 

tweentheSthandjathor  June  '^  J      H„ae  28»  W., 

Being  now  in  the  I'tlt^^f^V^ded  a  prospect.of  falling  i? 
Rodgers  shaped  a  course  that  ««°™f"'-/st.  George's  Chan-  , 
witlTvessels  bound  to  Newf^ndlandjrem^f  ;t\;J,?hat 
nel,  by  the  way  of  Cape  Clear,  a»«  .    ^^  Ms  astoniahe 

pass  north  about  to  ''«.»°'''^,r'i  did^ot  meel  with  a  single 
ment,  however,  in  all  h.s  route,  ^e  did  not  ^^ 

vessel,  until  he  "^de  the  Sheetland  Wands,  ^^^^^  ^^^ 
.H>thing  but  Dan  sh  vessels,  rading  to  Mg^^^^^^^  and  water 
licences.  A  considerable  P"'-^""  «» '^*^„'  to  repl-msji  these, 
b«ing  now  expended,  ,t  became  °ec*ssar,Jo^^  ^ext-  .ccord- 
prevtous  to  determming  what  course  to  pu_  ^^^,i, 
ingly,  for  this  purpose,  ihey  put  "to  Noitn  ^    y  ^  ^ 

June    but  were  not  abe  to  obtain  any  thing       j  j,„,„      ^na 
being  at.  unusual  scarcity  of  bread  in  evej  pa  ^^^  ^^ 

.t  the  time  not  more  in  Bergen  than  a  baies.^^..^ 
inhabitants  for  four  or  five  w«ks.    AUer  r^p^    .^j^- ^^^  ^^^ 

ter,  Rodgers  stretched  over  ^°^"°^ ^^ ^^r^od  of  intercei*- 
thence  towards  the -North  tape,  foir  the  pur-^.^^^  .^  ^^  ^^.^ 

ing  a  convoy  of  tw«nty-hy»^^;'"^\^.,;yj„,„  under  the^pro- 
wottld  leave  Archangel  about  the  middle  ouu  y,  ^, 


,1 J^ ' 


66 


wii     ^ 


AISTORT  OF  THE  "irAJi. 


tection  of  two  brigs  or  two  sloops  of  war.  In  this  object,  how 
«ver,  he  was  disappointed  by  a  line  of  battle  ship  and  frigafe 
making  their  appearance  off  the  North  Cape  on  iHe  i  9th  of  ju 
ly,  just  as  he  was  in  momentary  expectation  of  meeting  th( 
convoy.    On  discovering  the  ships  of  war,  Rodgers  stood  t»l 
wards  them  to  ascertain  their  character,  when  he  hauled  by  t* 
wind  on  the  opposite  tack  to  avoid  them;  but,  owing  to  fai 
variable  winds,  calms,  and  entire  day-light,  the  sun  in  that  la 
tude,  at  that  season,  appearing  at  midnight  several  degrees 
above  the  horizon,  they  were  enabled  to  continue  the  chase  ap. 
#  wards  of  eighty  hours;  during  which  time,  owing  to  the  differ- 
ent changes  of  the  wind,  they  were  brought  quite  as  near  as 
^as  desirable. 

Disappointed  in  meting  with  the  convoy,  Rodgers  noW  steer- 
ed to  gain  the  direction  of  the  trade  passing  out  of  and  into  the! 
Irish  channel.  In  this  position,  between  the  25th  of  July  and 
2d  of  August,  he  made  three  captures,  when  finding  that  tht 
enemy  ^d  a  superior  force  in  that  vicinity,  he  made  a  circuil 
round  Ireland,  and  then  steered  for  the  banks  of  Newfoundland, 
near  which  he  made  two  more  captm^es,  and  by  the  latter  one 
learned  that  a  74  and  a  frigate  were  on  the  ©astern  part  of  the 
bank  only  a  few  miles  to  the  we^ward;,  he,  however,  did  not 
fall  in  with  them.  *    x 

On  the  23d  of  September,  to  the  southward  of  Nantucfc«t 
Shealsi  Rodgers  fell  in  with  and  captured  in  a  very  singular 
manner,  the  British  schooner  Highflyer,  tender  to  admiral 
Warren.  On  approaching  the  schooner  she  hoisted  a  private 
signal,  which  was  answered  by  the  President,  by  a  signal  which 
fortunately  proved  to  be  the  British  one  for  that  day,  on  seeing 
wi»eh  the  Higliflyer  immediately  bore  up,  and  was  boarded  by 
one  of  the  officers  of  the  President  in  a  British  uniform.  By  this 
stratagem  con  modore  Rodgers  gained  possession  of  the  British 
private  signals,  and  adr:  iral  Warren's  instructions  by  which 
was  discovered  the  number  of  British  squadrons  on  the  Ameri* 
can  eoast,  with  their  force  and  relative  positions.  He  was  thus 
enat>J||d  to  avoid  Ui  jiay  and  on  the  26th  of  September  arrived 
*«afe]|^  at  Newport,  7^  hode-Island. 

During  the  crul  i  the  President  captured  twelve  British 
vessels,  three  of  whiCi  ^vare  ransomed  and  dispatched  to  Eng- 
land as  cartels,  with  V '  prisoners  on  parole.  The  British  go- 
vernment,, however,  retused  to  sanction  the  terms  of  exchange 
entered  into  and  signed  by  their  officers,  assigning  as  *he  rea- 
son, uijjt  "  such  transactions  arc  luCOuaistcnt  wi»,n>nv  csiuuiinj:^ 
ed  understanding  between  the  two  countries.*'  The  President,' 
on  her  arrival,  had  fifty-five  prisoners  oji  boaxd. 


iiliittgi-ii 


ik 


Ba 


HISTORY    OF   THE  WAU'. 


67 


he  President, 


The  Congress,  after  parting  with  the  President,  continued 
r  cruise  until  the  1 2th  of  December,  when  she  arrived  at 
Portsmouth,  N.  H.  She  captured  two  British  brigs  often  guns 
ach,  one  of  which  was  destroyed,  and  the  other  after  being 
lismantled,  was  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  who  were  discharg- 
d  on  parole,  and  furnished  with  provisions,  8cc.  sufficient  to 
^arry  them  to  the  West  Indies.  She  likewise  captured  a  fin- 
ish ship  laden  with  wine  and  potatoes,  which  was  destroyed 
fter  the  greater  part  of  her  cargo  was  taken  out. 

Af  er  parting  with  the   President,  the  Congress  ran  to  the    ^ 
iOuChward;  and  crossing  the  equator,  put  into  Seara,  on  the 
Jrazil  coast.     After  watering,  she  beat  against  a  strong  wind 
ind  current,  up  to  Fernando  de  Noronha,  where  she  agam  wa- 
ered;  and  then  proceeded  to  the  eastward,  in  hopes  to  HU  m 
ithsome  Indiamen.     She   cruised  as  far  as  18°  W.  fi-om  6° 
,.  to  <>°'N.  under  easy  sail,  made  the  island  of  St.  Paul^but 
^ntil  her  return  to  Fernando  de  Noronha,  which  "vmm^mvly 
'hree  months,  never  saw  a  vessel.  She  then  returne(«||^ra^ 
^vhere  she  took  in  a  quantity  of  cassada,  jerked  oeef,  m.  ant 
•an  under  two  reefed  topsails  to  latitude  44°  N.,  passmg  near 
Halifax,  where  she  captured  a  brig,  who  informed  them  of  Bos^ 
Ion  being  blockaded  by  a  superior  force.  She  accordingly  maae 
lor  Portsmouth,  where  she  arrived,  with  her  crew,  410  men,iii 
perfect  health,  having  lost  but  four  on  the  cruise.     When  the 
Ln  commenced  on  the  jerked  beef  and  cassada,  it  did  not 
ligree  with  them,  and  about  fifty  were  sick— but  they  soon  re- 
bovered.    The  Congress  was  in  perfect  order  and  wanted  no 
f  epairs.    She  had  on  board  about  thirty  prisoners  on  her  arrival. 

The  Essex  frigate  sailed  from  the  capes  of  the  Delaware  #n 
Ihe  25th  of  October,  1812,  on  a  cruise  to  the  Pacific  ocea*. 
Letters,  however,  dated  July  2,  1813,  were  received  at  the 
liavy  department  about  the  middle  of  December  followmg, 
Irom  her  commander,  captain  Porter,  at  which  time  he 
Ivas  cruizing  off  the  western  coast  of  South  America,  w:th 
I  Heet  of  nine  armed  vessels  under  his  command,  eight  of 
khich  were  British  letters  of  marque,  which  he  had  cap-  ^ 
If  red  and  fitted  out.     The  first  of  these  vessels  which  was 

ship  of  two  guns  and  twenty-one   men,  was  captured  on 

Ihe  29th  of  April.     Two   others  were  then   in  sight  close 

logether,  about  seven  miles  distant  from  the  Essex;  the  one 

fnoui>ting   ten  guns,  six  and   nine   pounders;  the  other    sijd, 

Jighteen  pounders,  four     ^ivels,  and  six  long  blunderbusses, 

■iisuG^-do"  ?«?ivfils.     Th«i  wind  being  lieht  and  variable,  and 

"oiifidYng  greatly  in  the  bravery  and  eaterpriae  of  his  officers 

m\  men,  and  apprehensive  of  their  escape,  from  the  prevalence 


in 


68 


HISTORY  Ot  THE  WAR. 


of  fogs  in  that  climate,  Porter  directed  the  boats  of  the  Essex 
,  to  be  armed  and  manned,  and  divided  into  two  divisions.  Suit-I 
alile  signals  were  established,  and  each  boat  had  her  particula? 
station  pointed  out  for  the  attack,  and  every  other  previous  ar' 
rangement  was  made  to  pi^jvent  confusion. 

The  boats,  seven  in  number,  rowed  off  in  '\dmirable  order. 
Guns  were  fired  from  the  enemy  to  terrify  them;  they  rowed 
up,  however,  undismayed,   under  the  muzzles  of  their  guns, 
and  took  their  stations  for  attacking  the  first  ship,  and  no  sooner 
was  the  American  flag  displayed,  as  the  signal  for  boarduig, 
and  the  intention  discovered  by  the  enemy,  than,  their  colours 
were  struck  without  a  shot  being  fired.  They  then  left  a  crew 
oft  board  the  prize,  and  took  their  stations  for  attacking  the 
othe/vessel,  when  her  flag  was  also  struck,  ^on  the  first  call  tol 
surrender.    Thus  were  two  fine  British  ships,  each  piercedl 
for  twenty  guns,  worth  near  half  a  million  of  dollars,  mounting 
bet#«en  them  sixteen  guns,  and  manned  with  55  men,  welll 
suppSi  with  ammunition  and  small  arms,  surrendered  withouti 
tlie  slightest  resistance,  to  seven  small  open  boats,  with  fifty 
men,  armed  only  with  muskets,  pistols,  boarding  axes,  and  cut- 
lasses, r     I 

On  the  26th  of  March,  previous  to  the  capture  of  any  of  the 
letters  of  marque.  Porter  Tell  in  with  the  Peruvian  corsair  ship 
Nereyda,  mounting  fifteen  guns,  which  had,  a  few  days  bef 
fore  captured  two  American  whale  ships,  the  crews  of  which, 
amounting  in  number  to  34  men,  were  then  detained  prison- 
ers on  hoard.    As  they  could  assign  no  other  motive  for  thcl 
capture  than  that  they  were  the  allies  of  Grdat  Britain,  and,  as 
such,  should  capture  all  American  vessels  they  could  fall  io 
with.  Porter,  to  prevent  in  future  such  vexatious  proceeding,! 
threw  all  her  armament  into  the  sea,  liberated  the  Amencans,| 
and  dismissed  the  Nereyda.     He  then  proceeded  with  all  pos- 
sible despatch  for  Lima,  to  intercept  one  of  the  detained  ves- 
selsj  which  had  parted  company  with  the  Nereyda  only  threel 
days  before,  and  was  so  fortunate  as  to  arrive  there,  and  ice-f 
capture  her  on  the  5th  of  April,  at  the  moment  she  was  enter- 
ing the  port.  , 

Captain  Porter  described  his  crew  as  enjoying  rem^kablf 
good  health  and  spirits,  no  symptoms  of  scurvy  having  ap- 
peared, although  they  had  been  at  sea  for  eight  months,  with 
the  exception  of  23  days.  The  Essex  was  in  prime  order, 
with  abundant  supplies,  and  two  of  her  consorts  were  fitted  oirt| 
with  20  guns  each,  and  well  manned,  tie  mentioned  tiiai 
British  letters  of  marque  were  numerous  in  those  seas,  and  thati 
the  American  whalers  had  derived  much  benefit  from  his  crui^M 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


69 


The  bravery  and  enterprize  of  American  seamen  have  not 
been  less  conspicuous  on  board  of  our  privateers  than  in  our 
national  vessels.  We  shall  here  present  an  account  of  a  few 
of  the  most  conspicuous  actions  that  have  taken  place. 

In  no  one  action  fought  during  the  present  war,  has  there 
been  more  courage  and  gallantry  displayed  than  in  the  atiack 
made  by  the  privateer  Rolla  on  the  British  ship  Rio  Neuva.— 
The  Rolla  originally  carried  four  twelve  pound  carronades  in 
her  waist,  and  one  double  fortified  twelve  mounted  on  a  pivot. 
In  a  gale  of  wind  off  Madeira,  the  4  twelve  pounders  were 
obliged  to  be  thrown  overboard,  and  only  one  gun  remained; 
with  this,  however,  on  the  14th  of  December,  1812,  the  Rolla 
attacked  the  Rio  Neuva,  mounting  18  guns  and  30  men,  and 
took  her  after  an  action  of  twenty-five  minutes.     During  the 
action,  the  men  on  board  the  Rolla,  animated  by  the  courage 
and  conduct  of  captain  Dooley  and  his  officers,  evinced  a  fixed 
determination  to  take  the  enemy  or  perish.     When  the  ship 
struck,  the  Rolla  had  ranged  up  within  pistol  shot,  and  wan 

preparing  to  board.  .     n.,  «     i 

The  privateer  schooner  Comet,   captain  Thomas  boyle, 
sailed  from  Cape  Henry,  on  the  25th  of  November,  1812,  on  a 
cruize  to  the  coast  of  South  America.    On  the  12th  of  Decem- 
ber, at  one  in  the  afternoon,  she  discovered  four  sail  standm- 
out  of  Pernambuco,  and  lay  by  to  give  them  an  opportunity  ol 
netting  off  shore,  in  order  to  cut  them  off.    At  three,  they  be- 
inff  then  about  six  leagues  from  the  land,  she  bore  up  and  made 
all  sail  in  chase^of  them;  and  at  six  having  discovered  one  of 
them  to  be  a  verv  large  man  of  war  brig,  all  hands  were  called 
to  quarters,  the'  guns  loaded  with  round  and  grape  shot,  the 
deck  cleared,  and  all  got  ready  for  action.     At  seven,  beiiii- 
then  close  to  the  chase,  the  Comet  hoisted  her  colours,  and 
sheered  i»p  to  the  man  of  war,  which  had  hoisted  Portuguese 
colours.     The  Portuguese  then  sent  his  boat  on  board  the  Co- 
met, the  officer  of  which  informed  captain  Boyle,  that  the  brio- 
was  a  Portuguese  national  vessel,  mounting  twenty  thirty-two 
pounders,  and  165  men,  and  that  the  three  others  were  English 
vessels  under  his  protection,  which  he  would  not  suffer  to  be 
molested;   he  also  mentioned  that  the  English  vessel'^  were 
armed  and  very  strong.     Boyle  having  shown  him  his  com- 
niission,  answered,  that  the  brig  had  no  right  to  protect  r.nghsh 
vessels  on  the  high  seas,  and  that  he  was  determined  to^cap- 
ture  those  vessels  if  he  could;  that  he  should  be  sorry  n  any 
thing  disagreeable  took  place,  but  if  it  did  he  would  no\  ■  c  the 
aggressor!  but  that  he  should  certainly  resist  any  aitejnpt  to 
prevent  his  capturhig  the  vessels.     The  officer  havuiti  now  re- 

G  " 


.;^'- 


:!.:.:.U^ 


tllll.lljl ' 

I 

m 

in 

1 

"i 


!<. 


UlSTOUY    OF    THE    WAR. 

turned  on  board  the  brig,  Boyle  hailed  her,  and  distinctly  stated 
his  intention  of  immediately  attacking  the  convoy,  wluch  con- 
sisted of  a  ship  of  14  guns,  and  two  brigs  of  10  guns  each,  the 
whole  force,  including  the  Port  uguese,  being  54  guns 

Boyle  iccv-iwih^ly  made  all  sail  for  the  English  vessels, 
which  were  close  together,  and  about  half  past  eight,  the  moon 
shining  clear,  he  hailed  the  ship,  ordering  them  to  back  the 
main-top-sails.  Little  or  no  answer  being  given,  Boyle,  having 
quick  way  at  the  time,  shot  a  little  ahead,  saying  that  he  should 
be  along  side  again  in  a  few  minutes,  when,  if  his  orders  were 
not  obeyed,  a  broadside  would  be  poured  into  him.  After  a 
few  minutes  he  tacked,  the  man  of  war  close  after  him.  He 
then  ran  alongside  the  ship,  one  of  the  brigs  being  cHose  to  her, 
and  opened  his  broadside  upon  them  both,  all  the  vessels  at  this 
time  carrying  a  croM'd  of  canvass.  From  his  superior  sailinp- 
Boyle  was  frequently  obliged  to  tack,  by  which  he  would  have 
received  considerable  advantage,  had  he  not  beon  closely  fol- 
lowed by  the  man  of  war,  which  now  opentd  a  heavy  fire  upon 
him;  which  was  returned  by  the  Comet.  Having  now  the 
whole  force  to  contend  with,  Boyle  kept  as  close  as  possible  to 
the  English  vessels,  which  frequently  separated  to  give  the 
man  of  war  aii  opportunity  of  giving  a  broadside.  The  Comet 
continued  the  action,  sometimes  pouri.ig  her  broadsides  into 
the  merchantmen,  at  others  into  the  man  of  war,  until  eleven 
o*clock,  when  the  ship  surrendered,  being  all  cut  to  pieces, 
and  rendered  unmanageable,  and  directly  after  one  of  the  brigs, 
which  was  also  very  much  disabled.  A  boat  was  now  despatch  - 
ed  to  take  possession  of  the  brig,  but  it  was  forced  to  retu  i, 
being  prevented  from  passing  by  the  fire  of  the  man  of  war; 
one  of  whose  broadsides  almost  succeeded  in  sinking  it.  The 
Comet  now  directed  the  whole  of  her  fire  at  the  ^Portuguese, 
who  soon  sheered  off,  and  was  followed  for  a  short  distance  by 
the  Comet,  which  then  returned,  and  made  the  third  merchant- 
man surrender,  she  also  being  cut  to  pieces. 

Boyle  now  took  possession  of  the  Bowes,  the  brig  that  had 
first  surrendered.  He  also  spoko  the  ship,  and  ordered  the 
captain  to  follow  him,  who  answered  that  his  ship  was  in  a 
sinking  condition,  having  many  shot  holes  between  wind  and 
water,  and  not  a  rope  but  what  was  cut  away;  but  that  he 
would,  if  possible,  follow  his  orders  for  his  own  safety.  As 
soon  as  the  B»  wes  was  taken  possession  of,  she  received  a  pass- 
ing broadside  from  the  Portuguese.  The  moon  having  now 
set,  it  became  very  dark  and  squally,  and  the  Comet  was  sepa- 
rated from  all  the  vessels  except  the  man  of  war,  with  whom 
iur  half  an  hour  longer  she  continued  occasionally  to  exchange 


HISTORY  OK  THE^WAR. 


TV 


broadsides.  At  day-light,  however,  the  vessels  beir.g  found  to 
be  stil  in  the  neighbourhood,  the  Comt  wore  ck  se  to  her 
nrize  The  man  of  war  then  stood  down  for  them;  on  per- 
re  vine  which,  Boyle  immediately  hove  abom,  and  stood  for 
him  when  he  also  tacked,  and  made  signals  for  the  convoy  to 
make  the  first  port.  The  two  merchantmen  accordmgly  put 
SLfore  the  wind,  accompanied  by  the  Portuguese,  by  whose  as- 
sistance  and  their  own  exertions,  they  succeeded  with  the  ut- 
most difficulty  in  regaining  the  harbour  of  Pernambuco,  leav- 
inc  the  Bowes  in  possession  of  the  Comet. 

On  the  nth  of  March  1813,  the  General  Armstrong,  a  pri- 
vateer  schooner,  while  cruizing  off  the  mouth  of  Surinam 
river,  disco /ered  a  sail,  which  was  supposed  to  be  a  British 
eltei'  of  marque,  and  immediately  bore  down  on  her,  with  the 
ntention  of  giving  her  two  brordsides  and  then  boarding.    Al- 
ter giving  her  one  broadside,  and  wearing  and  giving  another, 
0  their  iurprise  they  found  they  were  alongside  ot  a  frigate, 
nierced  for  14  guns  on  the  main  deck,  6  on  the  quarter-deck, 
^id  4  on  the  forecastle.    The  wind  being  light,  the  privateer 
lay  for  about  ten  minutes  like  a  log  in  the  water.    During  that 
ime  however,  they  shot  away  the  frigate's  tore-top-sail  tie,  his 
mizen  eaff  haulyards,  which  brought  his  colours  down,  and  his 
mizen  and  main  stay,  when  thinking  si  e  had  struck,  they 
ceased  firing;  but  b  Ing  soon  undeceived    they  recommenced 
the  action.     The  fri   ate  lay  for  a  few  mu.ates  apparently  un- 
manageable,  but  soo.  g.  cting  way,  opened  such  a  heavy  fire 
is  would  soon  have  sunk  the  schooner,  had  she  not  succeeded 
in  making  her  escape  by  tlie  assistance  ot  her  sweeps.    In  this 
actbn,  which  continued  for  45  minutes,  the  privateer  had  six 
men  killed  and   16  wounded.     All  the  haulyards  of  her  head 
sails  were  shot  away,  the  foremast  and  bowsprit  one  quarter 
cut  throuRh,  all  the  fore  and  main  srrouds  but  one  cut  away, 
both  mainstays  and  running  rigging  cut  to  pieces,  a  great  num- 
ber oi  shot  through  the  sails,  and  several  between  wind  and 
water,  which  caused  the  vessel  to  leak,  and  a  number  m  the 
hull.     While  they  were  getting  away  from  the  fn gate,  she 
4cept  up  a  well  directed  fire  for  the  foremast  and  gaff  ot  the 
schooner,  bu^    without  effect. 

On  the  5th  of  August  1813,  the  privateer  Decatur,  being 
on  a  cruize,  discovered  a  ship  and  a  schooner,  the  first  of  which 
proved  to  be  tl  e  British  packet  Prmcess  Charlotte,  the  othei 
JhP  British  vessel  of  war,  the  Dominica,  bhe  immediately 
stood  towards  them,  and  soon  found  herseli  abreu:*t  oi  uio 
schooner.  Both  vessels  continued  to  manouuvre  ft  '  two  or 
ee  hours,  the  Dominica  endeavoursng  to  escape,  and  the 


72 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


!  i  ■ 


i= 


Decatur  lo  board,  during  which  time  several  broadsides  were 
fired  by  the  former,  and  a  number  of  shot  from  the  large  gun 
of  the  latter.  The  Decatur  at  last  succeeded  in  boarding  the 
Dominica,  a  number  of  men  passing  into  her  stern  from  the 
bowsprit.  The  fire  from  the  artillery  and  musquetry  was  now 
terrible,  being  well  supported  on  both  sides.  The  Dominica, 
however,  not  being  able  to  disengage  herself,  dropped  along 
side  of  the  Decatur,  and  in  this  position  was  boarded  by  her 
yhole  crew.  Fire  arms  now  became  useless,  the  crews  fight- 
ing hand  to  hand  with  cutlasses,  and  throwing  cold  shot;  when, 
the  captain  and  principal  officers  of  the  Dominica  being  kill- 
ed, and  her  deck  covered  with  dead  and  wounded,  the  British 
colours  were  hauled  down  by  the  conquerors. 

During  the  combat,  which  lasted  an  hour,  the  Princess 
Charlotte  remained  a  silent  spectator  of  the  scene,  and  as  soon 
as  it  was  over,  she  tacked  about  and  stood  to  the  southward. 
She  had  sailed  from  St.  Thomas,  bound  to  England,  under 
convoy,  to  a  certain  latitude,  of  the  Dominica. 

The  Decatur  was  armed  with.  6  twelve  pound  carronades,  and 
one  eighteen  pounder  on  a  pivot,  Avith  103  men.  Her  loss  in 
the  action  was  three  killed  and  sixteen  wounded,  one  of  whom 
afterwards  died.  The  Dominica  had  12  twelve  pound  carron- 
ades,  two  long  sixes,  one  brass  four  pounder,  and  one  thirty- 
two  pound  carronade  on  a  pivot,  with  83  men.  She  had  13 
killed,  and  47  wounded,  five  of  whom  afterwards  died  of  their 
wounds.  Perhaps  this  engagement  has  been  the  most  bloody, 
and  the  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  on  the  part  of  the  enemy, 
in  proportion  to  the  number  engaged,  perhaps  the  greatest, 
of  any  action  to  be  found  in  the  records  of  naval  warfare.  The 
surviving  officers  of  the  Dominica  attribute  the  loss  of  their 
vessel  to  the  superior  skill  of  the  Decatur's  crew  in  the  use 
of  musquetry,  and  the  masterly  manoeuvering  of  that  vessel,, 
by  which  their  carriage  guns  were  rendered  nearly  useless. — 
The  captain  was  a  young  man  of  not  more  than  25  years  of 
age;  he  had  been  wounded  early  in  the  action  by  two  musket 
balls  in  the  left  arm,  but  he  fought  till  the  last  moment,  refus- 
ing to  surrender  his  vessel,  although  he  was  urged  by  the  few 
survivors  of  his  crew  to  do  so;  declaring  his  determination  not 
to  survive  her  loss. 

The  Decatur  arrived  at  Charleston  on  the  20th  of  August 
with  her  prize.  The  svirviving  officers  of  the  Dominica  spoke 
in  the  highest  terms  of  approbation  of  tb.e  hiimanitv  and  atten- 
tion displayed  towards  them  by  the  officers  and  crew  of  the 
Decfttur. 

7'owards  the  beginning  of  January  general  Tupper  having" 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


t  i> 


crew  of  the 


in  a  manner  paved  the  way  by  his  expeditions,  general  Win- 
fhes^?  proceeded  down  the  Miami  from  Fort  Defiance  to  the 
Rapids,  with  the  force  under  his  command.  On  his  arrival 
there,  1  e  was  strongly  urged  by  the  inhabitant*  o  1  renchtown, 
on  he  viver  Raisin,^o  protect  them  from  the  violence  and  out- 
race  of  the  horde  of  savages  by  whom  they  were  surrounded, 
!,nd  to  whose  brutalities  they  were  daily  exposed  YiekUng  to 
the  call  of  humanity,  Winchester,  on  the  17th  of  January,  by 
t  e  unammous  advice  of  his  officers,  but,  it  appears,  without 
consuhing  general  Harrison,  detached  a  body  of  about  750  men, 
under  eeneral  Lewis  to  their  relief. 

On  the  following  day,  when  within  three  nu  es  of  trench- 
town,  information  was  received  that  a  body  o.t  British  and  In- 
Tns  were  encamped  at  that  place,  and  that  they  had  received 
notice  of  their  approach.  The  troops  were  accordmgly  arraiig. 
ed  and  directed  to  prepare  for  action,  and  then  proceeded  with- 
in  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  enemy,  who   immediately  com- 
nicnced  a  fire  with  a  howitzer,  from  which,  Ijowever,  no  inju- 
ry was  received.     The  line  of  battle  being  instantly  forined, 
the  whole  detachment  was  ordered  to  advance  across  the  river 
on  the  ice:  in  which  they  succeeded,  though  it  was  m  many 
pLes  extl-emely  slippery.     The  left  wing  and  centre  we i-e 
hen  ordered  to  possess  themselves  of  the  houses  and  incket- 
ing  about  which  the  enemy  had  collected,  and  where  tliey  had 
placed  their  cannon.    This  order  was  executed  m  a  few  min- 
utes.    Both  battalions  advanced  amidst-an  incessant  shower  ot 
bullets  and  succeeded  in  dislodging  the  enemy,  neither  the 
picketing  nor  the  fencing  over  which  they  had  to  pass  check- 
ing: their  progress.  .  i      1 1^  j-.. 
The  right  wing  fell  in  with  the  enemy  at  a  considerable  dis- 
tance  to  the  right,  and  pursued  them  a  mile  to  the  woods, 
where  they  made  a  s^and  with  their  howitzer  and  small  arms, 
covered  by  a  chain  of  enclosed  lots  and  a  group  of  houses,  with  - 
a  thick  brushy  wood  full  of  fallen  timber  in  their  rear.    Xewis 
now  ordered  the  left  and  centre  to  possess  themselves  of  the 
wood  on  the  left,  and  to  move  up  towards  the  main  body  ol  the 
enemy  as  fast  as  practicable,  in  order  to  divert  their  attention 
from  the  right.     At  the  moment  that  the  left  and  centre  com- 
menced their  fire,  the  right  advanced,  and  the  enemy  being 
soon  driven  from  the  fejices  and  houses,  both  parties  entered 
the  wood  together.    The  fight  now  bccuuie  CiOse   ana  ex^ 
tremoly  hot  on  the  right  wing,  the  enemy  concentratmg  their 
forces  on  that  side,  in  order  to  force  the  line.     1  hey  were, 
however,  still  obUged  to  retreat,  although  siov.ly,  the  Ameri- 
cans being  much  fatigued,  and  were  driven  m  the  whole,  not 


74 


HISTORY  OF  THB  WAR. 


'J'" 


I 


*i 


less  than  two  miles,  every  foot  of  the  way  under  a  continual 
charge. 

The  battle  lasted  from  three  in  the  aftemo  m  till  dark,  when 
the  detachment  was  drawn  off  in  good  order,  and  encamped  at 
the  place  which  the  enemy  had  first  occupied. 

The  force  of  the  enemy  hi  this  affair  has  never  been  exactly 
ascertained;  but  from  the  best  information,  there  were  80  to  100 
British  and  400  Indians.  The  number  of  their  killed  and 
ivounded  is  likewise  unknown,  as  they  were  enabled  to  carry 
off  all  but  those  left  on  the  field  where  the  battle  rommenced, 
which  was  about  fifteen;  but  fro,  ^^  the  Llood-  the  trails  of  bodies 
dragged  off,  and  the  reports  of  the  people  who  lived  near  the 
place,  the  slaughter  must  have  been  great.  One  Indian  and 
two  of  the  Canadian  militia  were  taken  prisoners.  A  quantity 
of  public  stores  was  also  taken.  The  loss  of  thfc  Americans 
was  twelve  killed  and  fifty-five  wounded. 

On  the  20th,  general  Winchester  joined  ^the  detachment;, 
with  a  reinforcement  of  250  men. 

Meanwhile  colonel  Proctor,  who  commanded  at  D«troit, 
hearing  of  the  approach  of  the  Americans,  advanced, to  meet 
them  with  a  body  of  1 500  Indians  and  Briti'sh,  300  of  whora 
were  regulars.  On  the  night  of  the  21st  he  discovered  the 
American  detachment,  and  early  next  morning  commenced  an 
attack  on  their  lines.  The  attack  commenced  at  6  in  the  morn- 
ing, by  a  heavy  fire  of  musquetry,  assisted  by  six  field  pieces. 
The  main  body  of  the  Americans  were  stationed  within  pick- 
ets on  the  left;  a  smaller  force  unprotected  occupied  the  right, 
who  gallantly  sustained  the  shock  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour, 
when  they  began  to  give  ground  for  the  purpose  of  forming  in 
a  situation  mftre  favourable  for  their  fire,  and  less  exposed  to 
that  of  th«  enemy.  At  this  moment  Winchester  arrived  at  the 
place  oljp^nflict,  his  quarters  having  been  at  the  distance  of 
three  or  four  hundred  yards  from  the  camp,  and  his  attention 
was  immediately  directed  to  rally  the  retreating  party.  This 
retreat,  however,  being  discovered  by  the  enemy,  the  whole 
Indian  force,  together  with  a  portion  of  the  militia,  bore  down 
upon  them  with  redoubled  violence,  and  by  the  superiority  of 
their  numbers,  and  the  severity  of  their  fire,  prevented  their 
forming.  After  a  short  conflict,  in  which  they  suffered  severe- 
ly, all  that  survived,  were  made  prisoners. 

The  left  who  were  stationed  within  the  pickets,  maintained 
their  ground  for  several  hours,  and  repulsed  the  British  regu- 
lars, in  three  successive  charges,  with  great  slaughter.  About 
1 1  o'clock,  however,  Winchester  was  broui^ht  in  as  a  prisoner 
to  this  part  of  the  field,  and  perceiving  that  resistance  was  in 


mSTOllY  OF  THE  WAR. 


75 


a  continual 

dark,  when 
ncamped  at 

een  exactly 

re  80  to  100 

killed  and 

ed  to  carry 

ommenced, 

lis  of  bodies 

ed  near  the 

Indian  and 

A  quantity 

Americans 

Ictachment;, 

at  D«troit, 
:ed,to  meet 
►0  of  whom 
covered  the 
nmenced  an 
n  the  morn- 
ieid  pieces, 
rithin  pick- 
d  the  right, 
)f  an  hour, 
forming  in 
exposed  to 
rived  at  the 
distance  of 
is  attention 
arty.  This 
,  the  whole 
bore  down 
periority  of 
ented  their 
red  severe- 
maintained 
•itish  regu- 
er.  About 
i  a  prisoner 
nee  was  in 


yain,  and  influenced  by  the  threat  of  their  being  abandoned  to 
savage  fury  unless  they  instantly  surrendered,  he  acceded  to  a 
capitulation,  and  sent  a  flag  to  the  pickets  to  inform  them  they 
vere  prisoners. 

General  Harrison  was  at  Lower  Sandusky,  when  he  received 
the  intelligence  of  Lewis  having  advanced  to  the  river  Raisin, 
and  fearing  that  he  might  be  overpowered,  he  immediately  set 
out  for  the  Rapids,  which  he  found  that  Winchester  had  just 
left  with  the  reinforcement.  When  the  news  of  Winchester's 
disaster  reached  Harrison,  he  was  about  three  miles  above  the 
Rapids,  with  360^men.  He  immediately  ©rdered  them  to  pre- 
pare to  march,  and  set  out  with  his  staff  to  overtake  a  detach- 
ment of  300  men  that  had  set  out  that  morning  for  the  river 
Raisin.  He  soon  overtook  them;  but  before  the  troops  that  he 
had  left  came  up,  it  was  ascertained  that  the  defeat  was  com- 
plete, and  it  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  officers  that  the 
detachment  should  return.  A  hundred  and  seventy  of  the 
most  active  men,  however,  were  sent  forward  with  directions 
to  proceed  as  far  as  possible  to  assist  those  who  were  fortunate 
enough  to  escape.  These,  however,  were  but  few;  the  snow 
was  so  deep  that  the  fugitives  were  entirely  exhausted  in  run- 
ning a  few  miles,  those  that  did  get  off  effected  it  by  turning 
down  to  the  lake,  and  secreting  themselves.  There  were  not 
more  than  40  or  50  that  got  a  mile  from  the  scene  of  action, 
and  the  greater  part  of  these  were  overtaken. 

Though  the  resistance  on  the  part  of  the  Americans  was 
put  an  end  to^by  the  capitulation  concluded  by  Winchester,  we 
regret  to  say,  that  the  most  tragical  events  of  this  disastrous 
day  are  still  to  be  recorded,  events  which  affix  an  irdelible 
stain  on  the  arms  of  the  British.  Aftefr  the  battle  the  British 
returned  to  Maiden  with  their  prisoners,  except  about  50  or  60 
wounded,  who  were  not  able  to  march.  A  few  of  the  Indians 
remained  behind,  who,  being  joined  next  morning  by  about 
50  more  from  Maiden,  immediately  commenced  a  massacre  of 
the  wounded  Americans,  and  afterwards  set  fire  to  the  houses 
in  which  they  had  been  left,  and  consumed  their  remains.  The 
same  day  the  Indians  massacred  a  number  of  their  prisoi)ers, 
who  had  not  been  wounded,  whose  remains  they  would  not  suf- 
fer to  be  interred,  but  left  them  above  ground,  where  they  were 
torn  to  pieces  and  devoured  by  hogs.  These  horrid  outrages 
are  but  too  well  substantiated,  not  only  by  the  inhabitants  of 
Frenchtown,  but  by  some  of  the  oflicers  who  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  escape,  by  being  purchased  from  the  savages.  Great 
indignities  were  likewise  inflicted  on  a  surgeon  and  his  two 
companions,  who,  but  a  few  days  after  th€  battle,  had  been  des- 


76 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


patched  by  Harrison  with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  attend  to  the 
wounded.  One  of  them  was  killed  by  the  Indians,  and  the 
others  robbed  of  the  money  with  which  they  had  been  entrust- 
ed by  the  general,  for  the  relief  of  the  most  pressing  wants  of 
the  wounded.  After  suffering  many  indignities,  not  only  from 
the  Indians  but  from  the  British,  under  the  flimsy  pretext  of 
their  using  the  flag  only  as  a  cover,*  they  were  at  length  set 
at  liberty  at  Montreal,  whither  they  had  been  carried  and  im- 
prisoned. 

On  the  23d  of  January,  the  day  after  the  surrender  of  Win- 
chester, Harrison  retreated  to  Carrying  river,  about  midway 
between  Sandusky  and  the  Miami.  In  the  following  month  he 
again  advanced  to  the  Rapids,  where  he  constructed  a  fort, 
which  in  honour  of  the  governor  of  Ohio,  was  named  Fort 
Meigs.  This  fort  contains  about  nine  acres  of  ground,  nearly 
in  an  octagon  form.  At  each  corner  is  a  strong  block-house,  ] 
with  cannon  planted  so  as  to  rake  each  line,  and  command  every  I 
elevated  point  near  the  fort.  Between  the  block-houses  are 
strong  picketings  fifteen  feet  in  height,  against  which  a  breast- 
work of  clay  was  thrown  up  on  both  sides,  and  in  addition  to 
this,  several  long  batteries  were  erected,  which  were  well  sup- 
plied with  cannon. 

The  term  of  service  of  a  large  portion  of  the  militia  in  Har- 
rison's army  having  expired,  1200  men  were  called  out  by  the 
governor  of  Kentucky,  and  despatched  under  general  Green 
Clay  to  supply  their  place.  They  left  Cincinnati,  their  place 
of  rendezvous,  in  the  beginning  of  April,  and  arrived  near 
Fort  Meigs  on  the  4th  of  May,  which  they  learnt  was  beseig- 
ed  by  a  large  forc^  of  British  and  Indians,  under  general  Proc- 
.  tor.  ■  -  ■  .  >,-:::■':; 

Proctor  had  set  out  for  Fort  Meigs  with  1000  British  and 
1 200  Indians,  about  the  middle  of  April,  with  the  expectation 
of  capturing  it  before  the  arrival  of  Harrison's  reinforcements 
and  supplies;  but  owing  to  incessant  and  heavy  rains,  he  was 
not  able  to  open  his  batteries  before  the  first  of  May.  A  brisk 
firing  was  kept  up  on  both  sides  until  the  fifth,  when  a  small 
party  of  general  Clay's  detachment  arrived,  with  information 


*  General  Harrison  in  his  official  dis/iatch^  states,  that  the 
surgeon  was  furnished  with  a  letter  addressed  to  any  British 
officer  he  might  meet,  describing  the  character  in  which  he  went, 
and  the  object  for  %vhich  he  was  sent,  an  open  letter  to  general 

11Ti„^t,^t,tjav    nvkil  tinrltfoti  inof*'i/rtinnj»  tn  himkrlf^  all.  fif  iiihirh  he 

rr  srst  rrt  35  I.  r  J  ti-r-.r     •.-.---'■ —    i,"  -" "i."      — 

was  directed  to  shoiv  to  the  first  officer  he  met  with. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  W^R. 


77 


ut  the  rest  being  close  at  hand.  Orders  were  inimediately 
dispatched  to  Clay,  to  proceed  down  the  river  in  his  boats,  to 
land  800  men  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  who  should  imme- 
diately attack  the  enemy's  batteries j  and  spike  their  cannotj, 
and  the  remaliider  on  the  right  bank,  who  would  be  aided  by  a 
sortie  of  the  garrison.  The  plan  w^aa  successfully  executed, 
the  cannon  were  spiked,  but  unfortunately,  instead  of  returning 
across  the  river  to  the  fort,  they  pursued  the  flying  enemy  to 
the  woods  where  they  were  surrounded,  and  the  greatest  por- 
tion taken  prisoners.  A  great  part  of  the  baggage  was  also 
taken  in  the  boats  by  the  Indians. 

Notwithstanding  the  unfortunate  issue  of  this  affair,  how- 
ever. Fort  Meigs  was  relieved.  Proctor,  being  deserted  by  the 
Indians,  whom  their  chiefs  could  not  prevent  returning  to  their 
villages,  as  is  their  custom  after  any  battle  of  consequence, 
with  tUeir  prisoners  and  plunder,  made  a  precipitate  retreat  or* 
the  9th  of  May,  having  previously  secured  their  ordnance  on 

board  a  sloop. 

No  event  of  consequence  took  place  on  the  New  York  fron- 
tier during  the  winter.  The  opposing  armies  being  divided 
by  a  barrier  of  ice,  not  sufficiently  strong  to  allow  of  the  trans- 
portation of  artillery,  peace  was  only  disturbed  by  a  few  petty 
incursions,  which  each  party  justified  by  the  plea  of  retaliation. 

On  the  6th  of  February,  captain  Forsythe,  the  commanding 
officer  at  Ogdensburg,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  received  info  -na- 
tion that  several  men  who  had  deserted  from  the  oppe-  :tv 
shore,  on  the  ice,  had  been  taken  on  the  American  side  b^  „ 
party  of  British,  and  carried  off  and  confined  in  the  jail  at 
Brockville. 

In  consequence  of  this  instrusion,  as  it  was  deemed,  Forsythe 
the  same  evening  crossed  over  with  about  200  militia  and  rifle- 
men, for  the  purpose  of  retaking  the  prisoners,  and  capturing 
the  military  stores  at  Brockville.  On  approaching  the  Canada 
shore,  a  flanking  company  was  detached  above,  and  another 
below  the  town,  to  secure  all  the  passes,  to  prevent  informa- 
tion being  communicated  to  the  country.  Before  the  main 
force  reached  the  shore  they  were  fired  at  by  the  centinels, 
but,  instead  of  returning  it,  they  rushed  through  the  main  street 
to  the  jail,  which  was  instantly  carried,  the  prisoners  liberat- 
ed, and  then  the  magazine  was  secured.  The  troops  in  the 
town  were  completely  surprised.  One  major,  three  captains, 
throe  lieutenants,  one  surgeon's  mate,  and  forty-two  privates, 
together  with  their  arms,  besides  130  rifles  and  muskets  cap- 
tured by  the  British  at  Detroit,  and  several  casks  of  powder 
and  fixed  ammunition,  were  secured  and  brought  off.  Perfect 


78 


HXSTOHY  OF  THB  WAR. 


'iE    J? 


order  was  observed  by  the  officers  and  men,  scrupulous  respect 
piuid  to  private  property,  and  no  injury  was  done  to  any  indivi. 
dual.  Although  a  severe  fire  was  kept  up  from  the  houses  as 
the  Americans  advanced  to  the  jail,  there  were  none  killed  and 
but  one  wounded. 

The  following  evening  ii  party  of  46  Indians,  headed  by  a 
British  officer,  crossed  over  from  Prescott,  a  village  in  Canada, 
a  mile  and  a  half  above  Ogdensburg,  for  the  purpose  of  captur- 
ing  a  picket  guard  of  nine  men,  belonging  to  Forsythe's  com- 
pany. They  succeeded  in  taking  the  centinel  on  post,  and  then 
attacked  the  guard,  but  were  repulsed  by  their  steady  bravery, 
aided  by  their  advantageous  position.  The  succeeding  evening 
15  or  20  American  volunteers  again  crossed,  and  took  a  lieute- 
nant and  two  men,  together  with  15  or  20  stand  of  arms. 

On  the  morninf^  of  the  22d  of  Februai  y,  the  British  crossed 
over  in  considerable  force,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  Og- 
densburg. Forsythe,  wiia  a  force  of  less  than  half  that  of  the 
British,  effected  his  retreat  to  Black  Lake  in  a  masterly  man- 
ner. Considerable  alarm  for  the  safety  of  Sackett's  Harbour 
was  excited  by  this  event,  and  immediate  measures  were  taken 
for  reinforcing  it.  No  attempts  were  made,  however,  at  fur- 
ther conquest.  The  British  shortly  after  retired  across  the  St. 
"Xawrcnce. 

The  ice  having  disappeared  on  Lake  Ontario  about  the  mid- 
dle of  April,  the  look-out  boat  Growler  sailed  from  Sackett's 
Harbour  on  the  19th  to  reconnoitre  the  lake  and  immediate 
preparations  were  made  for  an  embarkation  of  troops  for  the 
invasion  of  Canada.  The  troops,  to  the  number  of  1700,  un- 
der  the  command  of  gene-ral  Dearborn,  were  embarked  by  the 
23d,  but  the  weather  proving  stormy,  the  ifileet  did  not  sail  till 
the  25th. 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  they  arrived  off  York,  the  capi- 
tal of  Upper  Canada,  and  left  the  fleet,  having  taken  a  positior 
to  the  south  and  westward  of  the  principal  fort,  and  as  near 
♦he  shore  as  possible;  the  debarkation  of  the  troops  commenced 
about  8,  and  was  completed  about  10  in  the  forenoon.  The 
place  fixed  on  for  landing  was  a  clear  field,  the  scite  of  the  old 
French  fort  Tarvinto,  but  the  wind  blowing  heavy  from  the  east- 
ward  the  boats  fell  to  leeward,  by  which  they  were  exposed  to 
&  galling  fire  from  the  enemy,  who  had  taken  a  position  in  a 
thick  wood,  near  where  the  troops  were  obhged  to  land.  This 
circumstance  likewise  prevented  the  fleet  from  covering  the 
landing.  T^e  cool  intrepidity  of  theofikers  and  n^en,  however, 
overcame  every  obstacle. 

tha  r'ifl«>mp!n  imHpr  Fnrsvfhp  first  landed,  under  ahcavv  fire 


from  the 
consistir 
I  Hianded 
and  seve 
Americj 
Itheremj 
Iretreatei 
ledonth 


t 


li 


.    iC   \ 

expl 

The] 
count  Is 
prisones 

This 

only  inc 

the  tow 

The  i 
ihe  dea 
iroyed, 
brought 
cvacuat 
ba.'kcd; 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


79 


ilou  3  respect 
to  any  indivi. 
he  houses  as  I 
ne  killed  and 

headed  by  a 
;e  in  Canada, ' 
ise  of  captur- 
rsythe*s  com- 
ost,  and  then 
eady  bravery,, 
ding  evening] 
took  a  lieute- 
)f  arms, 
ritish  crossed  I 
ipturing  Og' 
ilf  that  of  the! 
easterly  man- 
ett's  Harbour] 
S8  were  taken 
^ever,  at  fur* 
icross  the  St. 

bout  the  mid- 
om  Sackett's 
id  immediate 
roops  for  the 
rof  iroo,  un- 
barked  by  the 
id  not  sail  till 

ork,  the  capi« 
ken  a  positior 
,  and  a»  neai 
>s  commenced 
renoon.  The 
cite  of  the  old 
from  the  east- 
ire  exposed  to 
i  position  in  a 
to  land.  This 
covering  the 
^en,  howevei'j 

Kr  aheavvfire 


from  the  enemy,  who  had  collected  all  their  force  at  this  point, 
consisting  of  700  regulars  and  militia,  and  100  Indians  com- 
manded by  general  Sheaffe  in  person.  The  contest  was  sharp 
and  severe  for  about  half  an  hour,  when  about  700  or  800  of  the 
Americans  having  landed,  commanded  by  general  Pike,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  troops  pushing  for  the  shore,  the  enemy 
retreated  to  their  works,  leaving  a  number  of  killed  and  wound- 
ed on  the  field.  As  soon  as  the  troops  were  landed,  the  schoo- 
ners were  directed  to  take  a  position  near  the  forts,  in  ^rder 
that  the  attack  upon  them  by  the  army  and  navy  might  be  si- 
multaneous. 

Pike,  having  formed  the  troops  on  the  ground  originally  in- 
tended for  their  landin;;:^,  advanced  to  the  batteries,  which  now 
opened  their  fire;  which  was  returned  from  the  schooners,  that 
had  beat  up  to  a  position  within  600  yards  of  the  principal  fort. 
The  troops  were  led  in  the  rr.ost  gallant  manner  by  general 
Pike,  who  carried  two  redoubts,  and  was  approaching  the  prini 
cipal  work,  when  the  enemy  having  previously  laid  a  train, 
blew  up  his  magazine,  by  which  a  great  number  of  the  troops 
were  killed  and  wounded,  and,  among  the  former,  the  ever  to 
be  lamented  gene.-al  Pike.  When  the  fall  of  Pike  was  made 
known  to  general  Dearborn,  he  landed  and  took  the  command 
of  the  troops. 

As  soon  as  the  magazine  was  blown  up,  the  British  set  fire  to 
their  naval  stores  and  a  ship  on  the  stocks;  and  then  the  regu- 
lars with  Sheaffe  at  their  head,  made  a  precipitate  retreat  from 
the  town.  By  two  in  the  afternoon  the  American  flag  was 
substituted  for  the  British,  and  by  four  the  troops  were  in 
peaceable  possession  of  York,  a  capitulation  having  been  agreed 
en  with  the  militia  commanding  officer,  by  which  the  town, 
stores,  and  nearly  300  militia  were  surrendered. 

.he  total  loss  in  killed  on  this  occasion  was,  in  battle  14  and 
J5'>    explosion  38;  wounded  in  battle  32,  by  explosion  2S2j 

The  loss  acknowledged  by  the  British  in  their  official  ac- 
count is:  killed  62,  wounded  34,  wounded  and  prisoners  43, 
prisoners  10,  and  missing  7. 

This  loss  of  killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners,  however,  must 
only  include  the  regulars,  as  300  militia  were  surrendered  in 
the  town. 

The  day  after  the  capture  of  York  was  employed  in  burying 
the  dead.  The  public  buildings,  bprracks,  &c.  were  then  des- 
'.royed,  togelt  with  th^  military  stores  that  could  not  be 
brought  away,  and  by  the  f^rst  of  May  the  town  was  entirely 
evacuated,  the  militia  pri»on*»r8  parolled,  and  the  troops  em- 
ba.-kcdi  but  owing  to  contrary  winds,  the  licet  did  not  sail  till 


80 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR* 


1,1  ,A1 


w 


'  i 


I 


the  8th,  On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  they  arrived  at  Four 
Mile  Creek,  below  Fort  Niagara,  where  the  traops  and  public 
T>roperty  were  landed,  and,  on  the  10th  Chauncey  again  sailed 
for  Sackett's  Harbour  for  reinforcements.  The  day  previous 
♦ohis  departure,  two  schooners,  with  100  picked  men,  sailed 
for  the  head  of  the  lake  to  seize  a  quantity  of  public  stores.- 
The  stores  were  found  to  be  guarded  by  about  80  regulars, 
who  were  repulsed,  the  stores  brought  away,  the  public  build- 
ings  burnt,  and  the  expedition  returned  to  Fort  Niagara  with- 

out  loss.  -  1       .  «.i       r  iv/r      I 

Chauncey  arrived  at  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the  13th  ot  May, 
and  having  received  350  troops  on  board,  again  sailed  on  the 
22d,  and  arrived  near  Fort  Niagara  on  the  25th,  where  the 
troops  were  landed.  A  council  was  immediately  held  by  gen-' 
eral  Dearborn,  for  the  purpose  of  making  arrangements  for  im. 
mediately  passing  to  the  opposite  shore.  Next  day  Chauncey 
reconnoitered  the  position  for  landing  the  troops,  and  at  night 
sounded  the  shore,  and  placed  b«oys  to  point  out  the  stations 
for  the  small  vessels.  He  then  took  on  board  of  the  Madison, 
Oneida,  andi^ady  of  the  Lake  all  the  heavy  artillery,  and  as 
many  troops  as  could  be  stowed.  ^ 

On  the  27th,  at  three  in  the  morning,  the  signal  was  ma^e 
for  the  fleet  to  weigh,  and  before  four  the  remainder  of  the 
troops  were  embarked  on  board  of  boats,  which  were  directed 
to  follow  the  fleet.  The  schooners  were  judiciously  placed  in 
positions  to  silence  the  enemy's  batteries,  and  cover  the  land- 
ing of  the  troops,  within  mu'-het  shot  of  the  shore.  In  ten  mi- 
nutes after  they  opened  on  the  batteries,  they  were  complete- 
ly  silenced  and  abandoned.  ,  i     j  j 

The  troops  then  advanced  in  three  brigades,  and  landed  near 
a  fort  which  had  been  silenced,  at  Two  Mile  cre^k.    Immedi"| 
ately  on  their  landing,  the  enemy,  who  had  been  concealed  in  a 
ravine,  advanced  in  great  force  to  the  edge  of  the  bank,  m  order 
to  charge  them;  but  the  schooners  opened  so  well  directed  and 
tremendous  a  fire  of  grape  and  cannister,  that  they  were  soon 
oblieed  to  retreat.     The  troops  formed  as  soon  as  they  landed 
and  immediately  ascended  the  bank,  and  charged  and  routed 
the  enemy  in  every  direction,  the  schooners  still  keeping  up  a 
constant  and  well-directed  fire.     The  British  now  re-entered 
Fort  George,  and  set  fire  to  their  magazines,  after  which  they 
moved  off  rapidly  towards  Queenstown,  and   were   pursued! 
by  the  light  troops  for  several  miles.     The  mam  body,  how- 
ever, having  been  under  arms  from  one  in  the  morning^  were 
too  much  exhausted  for  further  pursuit.     They  rcturiiea  to 
Fort  George,  of  which  they  had  quiet  possession  by  twelve 
o'clock. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


81 


ived  at  Four 
>s  and  public 
again  sailed 
day  previous 
,  men,  sailed 
jlic  stores.— I 
80  regulars,! 
public  build- 
Niagara  vith-l 

13th  of  May, 
sailed  on  the 
I,  where  the| 
held  by  gen- 
ments  for  im- 
lay  Chaunceyl 
,  and  at  nightl 
t  the  stations  I 
the  Madison,! 
illcry,  and  as| 

nal  was  made 
ainder  of  the 
were  directed 
usly  placed  in 
Dver  the  land- 
re.  In  ten  mi- j 
ere  complete- 
id  landed  near 
j^k.    Immedi" 
concealed  in  a 
bank,  in  order 
[I  directed  and 
icy  were  soon 
is  they  landed 
ed  and  routed 
I  keeping  up  a 
aw  re-entered 
;er  which  they 
were   pursued 
lin  body,  how- 
norning,  were 
;y  rciUiTjcu    -- 
iion  by  twelve 


On  this  occasion  we  find  the  first  mention  made  of  captain 
pERiiY,  the  hero  of  lake  Erie.  He  volunteered  his  services  to 
commodore  Chauucey,  and  rendered  great  assistance  in  arrang- 
\m  and  superintending  the  debarkation  of  the  troops.  He  was 
nresant  at  every  point  where  he  could  be  useful,  under  showers 
of  musquetry,  but  fortunately  escaped  unhurt.  The  next  day  he 
was  despatched  to  Black  Rock,  with  fiftpfive  seamen,  to  pre- 
pare and  take  the  command  of  the  squadron  fitting  out  there. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  capturi^.Fort  George,  was 
39  killed  and  1 1 1  wounded.  The  Britishiost  108  killed  and 
278  prisoners,  of  whom  !&:>  were  wounded.  The  number  of 
militia  parollcd  by  general  Dearborn  was  507. 
i  The  day  after  the  capture  of  the  fort,  general  Lewis  marched 
with  Chandler's  and  Winder's  brigades,  and  the  light  artillery, 
dragoons,  and  riflemen,  in  pursuit  of  the  Bntish,  by  the  way  of 
Queenstown.  Information  had  been  received  that  they  had 
made  a  stand  on  the  mountain,  at  a  place  called  the  Beaver 
Dam,  Avhere  they  had  a  de-pot  of  provisions  and  stores,  and  that 
they  had  been  joined  by  300  regulars  from  Kingston  and  were 
calling  in  the  militia.  Dearborn  therefore  was  in  hopes  that, 
confiding  in  the  strength  of  his  position,  the  enemy  would 
await  an  action,  by  which  an  opportunity  would  be  afforded  to 
cut  off  his  retreat.  In  this  expectation,  h.owever,  he  was  disap- 
pointed. The  troops  at  Fort  Erie  blew  up  their  magazine,  and 
joined  the  main  body  at  Beaver  Dam,  who  then  broke  up  and 
irctreated  along  the  mountains  towards  the  head  of  Lake  On- 
tario. The  same  evening  Fort  Erie  was  taken  possession  of 
jy  a  party  from  the  opposite  shore,  and  Lewis,,  finding  that  the 
enemy  had  made  their  escape,  returned  to  Fort  George. 

Dearborn,  still  in  hopes  of  being  able  to  cut  oft"  the  retreat 
of  the  enemy,  on  the  1st  of  June  detached  general  Winder  witii 
jhis  brigade,  and  one  regiment  from  Boyd's  brigade,  along  the 
lake  shore.  On  the  3d  general  Chandler  followed  with  the  re- 
tmainder  of  Boyd's  brigade.  The  British  general,  however, 
lanticipated  the  blow,  by  attacking  the  American  army  before 
day  on  the  morning  of  the  6th.  Unfortunately,  although  tiic 
American  loss  was  but  small,  and  the  enemy,  whose  force  was 
very  inferior,  driven  from  the  field,  yet  both  the  generals, 
'chandler  and  Winder,  were  taken  prisoners.  In  this  attack 
jthe  Ainericans  lost  two  generals  and  several  other  ofiicers,  but 
a  greater  number  of  prisoners  were  lost  by  the  eneniy. 

Dearborn  received  the  intelligence  of  this  affair  lute  in  the 
same  evening,  and  immediately  despatched  general  Lewis  to* 
|take  the  command  of  the  troops.     He  arrived  and  took  the 
icommand  in  the  afternoon  of  the  7ih.     The  Bl  iiiiih  likewise 

H 


s .  -y- 


«J 


HISTORY  or  THE  WAtt. 


despatched  a  messenger  to  sir  James  Yeo,  who  was  off  York 
with  the  British  fleet,  with  orders  to  co-operate  in  the  attack  I 
on  the  Americans.  Lewis  found  the  army  encamped  at  the 
Forty  Mile  Creek,  on  a  plain  of  about  a  mile  in  width,  ten  miles 
in  the  rear  of  the  ground  where  it  had  been  attacked,  its  right 
flank  resting  on  the  lake,  and  its  left  on  a  creek  which  skirtgl 
the  base  of  a  perpendicular  mountain  of  a  considerable  height. 
Lewis  had  scarcely  arrived  at  the  camp  before  the  hostile  I 
fleet  hove  in  sight.  It  did  not  approach  near  enough  before! 
dark,  however,  to  enable  them  to  ascertain  with  certainty  whe- 
ther  it  was  Yeo's  or  Chauncey's  squadron.  In  this  state  of  un- 
certainty, the  army  lay  on  their  arms  all  night,  and  at  break  of 
day  struck  their  tents,  when  the  hostile  fleet  was  discovered 
abreast  of  them,  about  a  mile  from  the  shore.  About  6,  it  be- 
ing a  dead  calm,  the  enemy  towed  in  shore  a  large  schooner, 
which  on  her  approach,  opened  her  fire  on  the  boats  which  the 
army  had  employed  for  the  transportation  of  their  baggage  and 
camp  equipage,  which  then  lay  on  the  beach.  As  soon  as  her 
object  was  perceived,  four  pieces  of  artillery  were  sent  down 
to  the  shore,  and  captain  Toitcn  of  the  engineers  was  ordered 
to  construct  a  furnace  for  heating  shot,  which  was  prepared] 
and  in  operation  in  less  than  30  minutes,  and  the  schooner  was 
soon  compelled  to  retire. 

A  party  of  Indians  now  made  their  appearance  on  the  brow 
of  the  mountain,  (which  being  perfectly  bald,  exhibited  them 
to  view),  and  commenced  a  fire  on  the  camp.  They  were! 
quickly  dislodged,  however,  by  a  small  party  under  the  com- 
mand of  lieutenant  Eldridge.  The  Americans  lost  not  a  man 
by  the  attacks  of  the  fleet  and  Indians. 

Sir  James  L.  Yeo  now  sent  on  shore  an  officer  with  a  flag, 
demanding  a  surrender  of  the  army,  it  being  invested  with  sa- 
vages in  its  rear,  a  fleet  in  its  front,  and  a  powerful  army  on  its  j 
flank.    To  this  demand  general  Lewis  only  answered,  that  "  the 
message  was  too  ridiculous  to  merit  a  reply.*' 

Between  7  and  8  o'clock  the  four  waggons  that  were  with 
the  army  were  loaded  with  the  sick,  and  with  ammunition;  the 
camp  equipage  and  baggage  were  put  in  the  boats,  and  700  men 
were  detached  to  proceed  in  them  for  their  protection.  By 
some  irregularity,  however,  the  boats,  induced  probably  by  the 
stillness  o\'  the  movning,  put  off"  before  the  detachment  reached 
the  shore,  and  they  had  not  proceeded  above  three  miles,  when 
u  breeze  sprung  up,  which  enabled  an  armed  schooner  to  over- 
haul thenu  Some  of  the  boats,  however,  kept  on  and  escaped; 
.1,^  ^»i-,iM.c  wpvp'  run  tn  the  shore  and  deserted,  twelve  of  which 
were  lost,  principally  loaded  with  baggage.     At  10  o'clock  m 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


8; 


l'"n°„^t%S?ofTe  23d  of  June,  Dearborn  despatched 

On  the  «^'^"'"f  °'  '   ...   „ijh  570  men,  to  Beaver  Dam,  a 

^"Ss  b^lond  Queen'own?  to  attack  U  disperse  a  body 

few  miles  "ey"""  *<",,  ^  .,..  'a  .here  for  the  purpose  of  pro- 

ren^mTr  irsfir?:  rfao  re^uUr.  ,  50  or  .00 

™i;J:«tneTmonUng:  ^enithm  about  two  ™ues  of  B 
veXm,  B^rstkr  was^itacked  from  an  ambuscade  but  soon 

h-  ^'\Xr^XScrheTmtrtt  -^es^at^dTn 
rpteTfor  ate  nfo  cJent^tating  that  he  would  maintain  h.s 
KZl  till  it  arrived.  Three  hundred  men  were  mstantly 
''°"  Ch  n  Is  relief  They  were,  however,  too  late;  for  on 
marched  to  his  rehe^     »  "  V       ^ ,  ^^jhentic  intelligence  of 

™LndWtrwholJ  detachment,  and  accordingly  re- 

"Xhe  BritXccount  of  this  affair  states  that  the  detachment 
.  Ktr-Rr^,  ,t^.er  surrendered  was  but  small,  the  Indians  be- 
"^.hfo^rforceactaaUy  engaged;  but  that  his  position  was 
l^CtmdeXwoot  wh'ich1.e^vas  led  to  believe  was  occu- 

^  Wh'ir  Kricr-y  -  thus  employed  at^>rt  George 
cpvprfll  enterDrises  were  undertaken  by  the  British.     Un  tiie 
^h^of  th^  ^'""of  May,  a  force  c  f  upwards  oiOOO  me.,  «n. 
der  sir  Georee  Prevost,  were  emoarked  at  Kingston  on  Doau 
t:  Brit?sh°:|u\dron,  and  in  open  boats,  -^  --^^''-^t -'^;^ 
for  Sackett's  Harbour.     Next  morning  they  v.  ere  obsci  veu  uy 
Ueutenant  Chauncey,  who  commanded  the  small  naval  lorce 
emaUing  there,  the'principal  part  of  the  A»ev,can  squadron 
beine  eneaRed  at  Fort  George;  he  immediately  sailed    nto 
the  haiS  firing  alarm  guns.    The  alarm  being  immediately 
communUated,  gins  werl  likewise  fired  fron.  the  alarm  posts, 
iHoX  to  brilg  in  the  militia,  and  instant^easmes  were 

'*n"o  irmtt.  howefer'-was  made  to  land  on  the  28th,  the  at- 
tenaono?Th^e 'enemy  being  draw.,  off,  at  the  m^oment  whe^n^all 
Vfas  prepared  fm-  iandlnp,  by  me  appcaraii-c  u.  » .--. — 


i^^^^u^^MMji^r  ■ 


III. 


84 


HISTORY  OF  1  HE  Vf  AH. 


Ill 


/I  I 


rican  barges  passing  from  Oswego  for  Sackett's  Haiuour.   The 
barges  of  the  enemy  were  immediately  dcspat<   led  to  cut  ihemj 
oflf,  and  succeeded  ia  taking  12;  the  troops,  ho    ever  had  pre- 
viftusly  succeeded  in  land'ng  and  gaining  the  woods,  and  camc| 
into  Sacke'L.'s   Harboui    the   same  evening.     The  remaining 
seven  beats  outsailed  the  enemy's  barges,  and  got  safe  into  port, 
It  is  presumed  that  the  landing  was  now  put  off  till  nextn\orn. 
ing,  under  the  ex')ectation  of  cutting  off  more  barges,  as  the] 
fleet  hauled  their  v  ind  and  stood  into  South  Bay,  and  the  arm. 
ed  barges  were  despatched,  apparently  in  order  to  waylay  them. 

During  the  night  a  considerable  militia  force  came  in,  audi 
were  stationed  oh  the  water  side,  near  Horse  Island,  on  which 
was  placed  a  small  body  of  Albany  volunteers.  The  moniem 
it  was  light,  the  enemy's  squadron  was  perceived  in  line  be- 
tween Stony  Point  and  Horse  Island,  and  shortly  after  troops 
were  landed  on  the  latter,  from  thirty-three  large  boats,  under 
cover  of  their  gun-boats. 

General  Brown,  who  commanded  the  post,  had  directed  that 
the  volunteers  should  retreat  across  the  neck  which  joins  Horse 
Island  to  the  main  land,  in  case  of  the  enemy  landing  there, 
■which  they  accordingly  did,  and  joined  the  militia  under  his 
command,  amounting  to  between  four  and  five  hundred  meD. 
The  enemy  having  landed  and  passed  to  the  main  land,  were 
inarching  to  the  town,  when  they  received  the  fire  of  the  volun- 
teers and  militia,  which  somewhat  checked  their  progress.— 
Unfortunately,  however,  the  mimia,  totally  unacquainted  with 
military  discipline,  after  giving  the  first  fire,  rose  from  their 
cover  and  fled  to  the  woods.  The  handful  of  volunteers,  thus 
losing  their  support,  were  likewise  forcecLlo  retreat,  bv.  being 
joined  by  a  few  regulars  from  the  town,  succeeded  in  rallying 
a  portion  of  the  militia,  and,  by  the  aid  of  the  fire  from  the 
fort,  soon  forced  the  enemy  to  withdraw  to  their  ships.  Un- 
fortunately, the  oflicer  who  was  entrusted  with  the  care  of  the 
navy  barracks  and  storC'-houses,  who  had  been  instructed  to 
fire  them  in  case  of  the  enemy  proving  victorious,  mistaking 
the  flight  of  the  militia  for  a  complete  repulse,  set  them  on 
,  fire,  and  they  were  totally  consumed. 

The  American  loss  in  this  attack  was  twenty-one  killed  and 
eighty-four  wounded,  of  the'volunteers  and  regulars,  and  twen- 
ty-six missing.  Of  the  militia  there  were  twenty-five  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing.  Of  the  enemy,  twenty -nine  were  found 
dead  in  the  field,  and  twenty-two  wounded,  and  thirty-five 
were  made  prisoners;  in  addition,  many  were  killed  in  the  boats 

....,,.-      -^-t*-;-,  \-IIci      •wiSX-'iS       5^115*^*  iiJtij       T.t      S.riii. .**.-.         ---^s*-      .--» —  ---_  — -  — 

off  the  field  by  the  enemy,  pixvious  to  the  commencement  of 


p* 


-f 


Hbour.  The 
1  to  cut  iheml 
ver  had  pre- 
Js,  and  came 
e  remaining 
afe  into  port, 
[1  next  morn- 
irges,  as  Hie 
and  the  aim. 
waylay  them. 
:ame  in,  and 
nd,  on  which 
rhe  moment 
d  in  line  be- 
after  troops 
boats,  under 

directed  that 
1  joins  Horse 
inding  there, 
tia  under  his 
undrcd  Tnen. 
n  land,  were 
of  the  volun- 
'  progress.— 
uainted  with 
>e  from  their 
anteers,  thus 
at,  bv.  being 
d  in  rallying 
fire  from  the 

ships.  Un- 
e  care  of  the 
instructed  to 
s,  mistaking 

set  them  on 

ne  killed  and 
rs,  and  twen- 
ty-five killed, 
e  were  found 
id  thirty- five 
d  in  the  boats 
iwise  carried 
lencement  of 


HISTOftY    OF    THE    SVAU. 


85 


i.s  retre  .  In  the  British  official  account,  their  In-  s  is  stated 
1  followf.,  viz:  Killed  forty-eight,  wouuded  .  -^Q  h.  .dred  and 
_:net'  c  inded  and  missing,  sixteen. 

Couiiuodore  Chauncey  returned  to  Sackett  s  Harbour  on  the 
1st  of  June,  from  Fort  George,  whei-  he  was  compelled  to  rc- 
llin  for  near  two  months,  until  the  new  vessel,  the  General 
Hke  ^as  ready  for  sea,  as  the  enemy's  fleet  was  now  const- 

^^5i::iS^^  B^'lorded  it  over  the  lake."  Oti  the  ,  6th^ 
of  June  their  fleet  appeared  off  the  village  of  bodus,  whcie  ex 
ou  ntUv  of  provisions  was  deposited.  The  militiao  the  neigh- 
bourhc        vere  in.tamly  called  to  arms,  and  the  following  day 
a^ved  in  considerabte  force.     In  the  mean  while,  the  enemy 
having  disappeared,  tu«     provisions  were  removed  trom    he 
tar  ifousesTn  the   Wter's  edge  to  a  small  distance  in  the  ec^c 
If  the  woods,  and  on  the  19th  the  militia  were  discharged  ex- 
cepting a  smal!  number  as  a  guard.     Before  evening  of  the 
ame  day,  however,  the  fleet  again  appeared.     T  he  alarm  was 
Lantly^given,  and  expresses  sent  after  the  aischarged  miU- 
a    who  immediately  returned,  but  not  in  time  to  save   the 
phce  -The  enemy  having  landed,  and  finding  that  the  grc^at- 
er  part  of  the  provisions  had  been  removed,  set  fire  to  all  the 
valuable  buildings  in  the  place,  which  were  consumed  with 

^'' The  nJxUay  the  fleet  appeared  off  Fort  Oswego,  and  made 
several  attempts  to  land  troops,  but  each  time  returned  on  see  - 
in^  the  American  troops  ready  to  meet  them  on  the  shore. 

Another  attempt  was  made  on  Sackett's  Harbour  on  the 
nieht  of  the  2d  of  July,  by  a  considerable  force  in  open  boats, 
helled  by  sir  Jam^  Yeo.  This  scheme  bemg  d}f->vered  b^y 
a  deserter,  commSTore  Chauncey  as  soon  as  possible  got  un- 
der  way  to  intercept  their  retreat.  The  British,  however  dis- 
covered  the  desertion  and  decamped  some  time  befoie  the 
commodore  could  reach  their  place  ot  landing. 

On  the  morning  of  the  1 1th  of  July,  250  British  regulai-s 
crossed  the  Niagara  river,  and  landed  a  little  below  Black 
Rock.  On  moving  towards  that  place,  tliey  were  disco  ed 
by  about  200  militia  who  instantly  fled.  1  he  enemy  then  s  t 
fire  to  the  barracks,  block-houses  Sec.  spiked  s^'^.^f^^  P^«^^^,^ 
of  cannon,  and  took  a  quantity  of  flour  and  salt,  ^nd  four  small 
field  pieces.  While  engaged  in  getting  off  the  property ,  they 
wei?attackedbyaforce%f  1 00  regulars,  ^30  nuhtia  and  vo  - 
unteers  and  20  or  30  Indians,  who  had  come  f  ^» >»«"?. f^^^^" 
faloe,  who  poured  in  upon  them  a  successful  fire,  by  which  a 
considerable  number  were  killed,mneof  whom  were  left  deac 

H    ii 


'^^ 

m 


IMAGE  EVALUAT!ON 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


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Q, 


Si. 


t/i 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
CorDoration 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


^ 


86 


HISTORY    OF    THE  WAR. 


on  the  shore,  besides  a  captain  mortally  wounded.  Fifteen 
prisoners  also  were  taken.  They  succeeded,  however,  in  car- 
rying off  the  property.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  one 
killed  and  three  wounded,  two  of  whom  afterwards  died. 

Nor  were  the  British  inactive  upon  Lake  Erie.  Afcer  their 
retreat  from  Fort  Meigs  in  the  beginning  of  May,  several 
threatening  movemeots  were  made  from  the  lake  at  Fort  Meigs, 
Lower  Sandusky,  Cleveland  and  Erie.  No  serious  attempt 
was  made,  however,  on  any  of  these  pests,  until  the  first  of 
August,  wi*€n  a  combined  force  of  the  enemy,  amounting  to  at 
least  50a  regulars  and  seven  or  eight  hundred  Indians,  under 
the  immediate  command  of  general  Proctor,  made  its  appear- 
ance before  Lower  Sandusky.  As  soon  as  the  general  had 
made  such  a  disposition  of  his  troops  as  would  cut  off  the  re- 
treat  of  the  garrison,  he  sent  colonel  Elliot,  accompanied  by 
major  Chambers,  with  a  flag,  to  demand  the  surrender  of  the 
fort,  stating  that  he  was  anxious  to  spare  the  effusion  of  blood, 
which  he  should  probably  not  have  in  his  power  to  do,  should 
he  be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  taking  the  place  by  storm. 

The  commander  of  the  fort  was  major  Croghan,  a  youth  of 
21  years  of  age.  His  answer  was  that  he  was  determined  to 
defend  the  place  to  the  last  extremity,  and  that  no  force,  how- 
ever large,  should  induce  him  to  surrender  it.  So  soon  as  the 
flag  returned,  a  brisk  fire  was  opened  upon  the  fort,  from  the 
gun-boats  in  the  river,  and  from  a  five  and  a  half  inch  howitzer 
on  shore,  which  was  kept  up  with  little  intermission  through- 
out the  night. 

At  an  early  hour  the  "next  morning,  three  sixes,  which  had 
been  placed  during  the  night  within  250  yards  of  the  pickets, 
began  to  play,  but  with  little  effect.  About  4  in  the  afternoon, 
discovering  that  the  fire  from  all  the  guhs  was  concentrated 
against  the  north  western  angle  of  the  fort,  Croghan  became 
confident  that  the  object  was  to  make  a  breach,  and  attempt  to 
storm  the  works  at  that  point.  He  therefce  ordered  out  as 
many  men  as  could  be  employd  for  the  purpose  of  strength- 
ening that  part,  which  was  so  effectually  secured  by  means  of 
bags  of  flour,  sand,  Sec.  that  the  picketing  suffered  little  or  ro 
injury;  notwithstanding  which,  about  500  of  the  enemy,  having 
formed  in  close  column,  advanced  to  Assault  the  works  at  the 
expected  point,  at  tlie  same  tins?,  making  two  feints  on  other 
parts  of  the  fort.  The  column  which  advanced  against  the 
north-western  angle,  consisting  of  about  350  men,  was  so  com- 
pletely enveloped  in  smoke,  as  not  'to  be  discovered  until  it 
had  approached  within  18  or  20  paces  of  the  lines;  but  the 
meij,  being  all  at  their   posts  and   ready  to  receive  it,  com- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


87 


idcd.     Fifteen 


rnenced  so  heavy  and  galling  a  fire  as  to  throw  the  column  a 
little  into  confusion;  being  quickly  rallied,  however,  it  advanc- 
ed to  the  outer  works,  and  began  to  leap  into  the  ditch.  At 
that  moment  a  fire  of  grape  was  opened  from  a  six-pounder, 
which  had  been  previously  arranged  so  as  to  rake  in  that  di- 
rection, which,  together  with  the  musquetry,  threw  them  into 
such  confusion,  that  they  were  compelled  to  retire  precipi- 
tately to  the  woods. 

Duiing  the  assault,  which  lasted  about  half  an  ho«r,  an  m- 
cessant  fire  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy's  artillery,  which  con- 
sisted of  five  sixes  and  a  howitzer,  but  without  effect.?^ 

Before  the  attack  was  ended,  the  soldiers  in  the  garrison 
supplied  the  wounded  enemy  in  the  ditch  with  water,  by  throw- 
ing over  full  canteens. 

The  whole  number  of  men  in  the  garrison  was  not  more 
than  160.  Their  loss  during  the  siege  was  one  killed  and  se- 
ven wounded  slightly.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  killed,  wound- 
ed, and  nrisoners,  must  have  exceeded  150;  one  lieutenant- 
colonel,  a  lieutenant,  and  50  rank  and  file  were  found  in  and 
about  the  ditch,  dead  or  wounded.  Those  of  the  remainder 
who  were  not  able  to  cape  were  taken  off  during  the  night 
by  the  Indians. 

About  3  in  the  morning  the  enemy  sailed  down  the  river, 
leaving  behind  them  a  boat  containing  clothing  and  consider- 
able military  stores.  Seventy  stand  of  arms,  and  several  brace 
of  pistols,  were  afterwards  collected  near  the  works. 

A  few  days  after  the  assault,  Proctor  despatched  a  surg'^on 
with  a  flag  of  truce,  to  assist  in  the  caie  of  the  wounded,  and 
with  a  request  that  such  of  the  prisoners  as  were  jn  a  condi- 
tion to  be  removed  might  be  permitted  to  return  to  Maiden, 
on  his  parole  of  honour  that  they  should  not  serve  until  ex- 
changed. 

Harrison,  in  his  reply,  stated,  that  oi?  his  arrival  at  Fort  San- 
dusky on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  he  found  that  major  Croghan, 
conformably  to  those  principles  which  are  held  sacred  in  the 
American  army,  had  caused  all  the  care  to  be  taken  of  the 
wounded  prisoners  that  his  situation  would  permit;  that  his 
hospital  surgeon  was  particularly  charged  to  attend  to  them, 
and  he  was  warranted  in  the  belief  that  every  thing  which  sur- 
gical skill  could  give  was  afforded.  They  have  been  liberally 
furnished  (  o,  he  added,  with  every  article  necessary  in  their 
situation  which  the  hospital  stores  could  supply.  Having  re- 
ferred to  his  government  for  orders  respecting  the  disposition 
of  the  prisoners,  he  could  not  with  propriety  comply  with  the 
request  oI"  un  immediate  exchange.     But  he  assured  him,  that 


88 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


as  far  as  it  depended  upon  him,  the  course  of  treatment  which 
had  been  commenced  towards  them  while  in  his  possesbion 
would  be  continued. 

It  is  impossible  here  to  avoid  contrasting  the  conduct  of 
Proctor  and  Harrison,  in  two  exactly  parallel  cases,  the  care 
of  thp  wounded,  and  trfeatment  of  the  surgeon  sent  for  their 
relief,  after  the  battles  of^renchtown  and  Sandusky.  In  the 
one  case  the  surgeon  is  treated  with  politeness,  and  only  sent 
back  because  his  aid  is  unnecessary,  and  the  wounded  are  sup- 
plied with  water  by  the  garrison,  even  while  ♦he  attack  is  car- 
ried c>  The  opposite  conduct  need  not  be  repeated  here. 
It  has  made  too  deep  an  impression  to  be  so  soon  effaced. 

On  the  26th  of  December  1812,  an  order  in  council  was  is- 
sued" by  the  British  government,  declaring  the  Chesapeake  and 
Delaware  bays  in  a  state  of  blockade,  and  on  the  20th  of  March, 
all  the  ports  south  of  Rhode  Island  were  included  During  the 
winter,  intelligence  had  been  repeatedly  received  by  American 
prisoners  from  Bermuda,  of  the  arrival  of  a  British  squadron  at 
that  place,  well  stored  with  bombs  and  Congreve  rockets,  and 
with  a  considerable  body  of  ^oops  on  board,'' for  the  purpose  of 
destroying  some  of  our  southern  cities.  The  alarm,  then,  that 
was  excited  at  Norfolk  may  be  easily  conceived,  when  intelli- 
gence was  received  of  the  approach  of  this  squadron,  which  on 
the  4th  of  February  was  perceived  in  the  Chesapeake,  standing 
towards  Hampton  Roads,  to  the  number  of  two  74's  three  fri- 
gates, a  brig  and  a  schooner.  The  frigate  Constellation  had 
come  down  the  bay,  and  anchored  in  Hampton  Roads  the  day 
before,  and  on  the  arrival  of  the  first  news  of  the  near  approach 
of  the  hostile  squadron,  it  being  then  ebb-tide,  was  fast  aground 
at  Willoughby  spit.  Fortunately,  hc.veyer,  the  flood  made, 
and  the  ship  was  afloat  before  the  enemy  hove  in  sight.  She 
was  immediately  brought  up  Elizabeth  river  to  Norfolk,  and 
anchored  between  the  two  forts. 

Every  exertion  was  now  made  for  the  defence  of  the  place, 
by  calling  out  the  militia,  &c.;  the  recruits  at  the  barracks  were 
brought  dov/n  to  the  fort,  and  the  gun-boats  stationed  in  the 
most  favourable  position  to  resist  the  expected  attack.  No  at- 
tempt, however,  was  made  upon  the  town.  The  squadron  con- 
fined its  operation  to  the  capturing  and  destroying  the  bay 
craft,  and  forming  an  effectual  blockade  of  the  waters  of  the 
Chesapeake. 

About  the  same  time  a  British  squadron  entered  the  Dela- 
ware  bay,  which  consistetl  of  the  Poictiers,  74,  the  frigate  Bel* 
'  videra,  and  several  small  yessels,  and  for  some  weeks  were  em- 
ployed in  fixing  buoys,  intercepting  and  capturing:  the  outward 


HISTORY  OF  THE  "WAU. 


89 


jjnd  inward  bound  vessels,  and  burning  the  bay  craft.  On  the 
1  "th  of  March,  sir  J.  P.  Beresford,  the  commander  of  the 
squadron,  transmitted  a  letter  to  Lewistown,  a  small  fishing 
town  near  the  mouth  of  the  bay,  addressed  to  the  first  magis- 
trate, i'equesting  him  to  send  twenty  live  bullocks,  with  a  pro- 
portionate quantity  of  vegetables  and  hay,  on  board  the  "oic- 
tiers,  for  the  use  of  the  squadron,  which  should  be  imme*  late- 
ly paid  for  at  the  Philadelphia  prices.  The  request  was  accom- 
panied with  a  threat,  that  in  case  of  a  refusal,  he  should  burn 
the  town.  ^ 

This  demanu  was  positively,  though  politely  refused,  as"  a 
compliance  would  be  an  immediate  violation  of  the  laws,  and  an 
eternal  spgma  on  the  nation."  To  which  Beresford  answered, 
"  that  the  demand  he  ha'l  made  was,  in  his  opinion,  neither  un- 
generous, nor  wanting  m  that  magnanimity  which  one  nation 
ought  to  observe  to  another  with  which  it  is  at  war.  It  is  in  my 
power,"  continues  he, "  to  destroy  your  town,  and  the  request 
1  have  mrde  upon  it,  as  the  price  of  its  security,  is  neither  dis- 
tressing nor  unusual.  I  must,  therefore,  persist,  and  whatever 
sufferings  may  fall  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Lewis,  must  be  at- 
tributed to  yourselves,  by  not  complying  v^ith  a  request  ao  ea- 
sily acquiesced  in.*' 

Nothing  further  passed  on  the  subject,  till  the  6th  of  April, 
when  they  renewed  the  demand,  and  fired  several  32  pound 
shot  into  the  town,  previoas  to  sending  the  flag  on  shore,  to 
show  that  they  were  serious  in  their  threats.  In  Bevesford's 
letter  on  this  occasion,  he  urges  that  no  dishcMiour  can  bo  attach- 
ed to  complying  with  his  demand,  in  consideration  of  his  supe- 
rior force.  "  I  must,  therefore,"  continues  he,  «  consider  your 
refusal  to  supply  the  squadron  as  most  cruel  on  your  part  to 
the  inhabitants.  I  grieve  for  the  distress  the  women  and  chil- 
dren are  reduced  to  by  your  conduct;  and  cariiestly  desire  they 
may  be  instantly  removed."  To  this  letter  merely  a  ^ierbai  re- 
ply was  returned,  that  the  commander,  colonel  Davis,  was  a 
gallant  man,  and  had  already  taken  care  of  the  ladies.  On  the 
return  of  the  flag,  a  cannonade  was  commenced  from  four 
launches  with  24  and  18  pounders;  two  sloops,  with  32  pounders 
and  a  mortar;  a  pilot  boat,  with  sijc  pounders;  and  a  schooner 
with  12  twelve  pounders,  covered  by  the  frigate  BeWidera. 

The  town  being  seated  on  a  considerable  eminence,  sustained 
little  or  no  injury;  the  rockets  passing  over,  and  the  bombs  fall- 
ing short.  The  fire  from  an  eighteen  pounder  on  shore,  wjjich 
wfts  supplied  by  shot  thrown  by  the  enemy^  silenced  one  of 


*u^:. 


m%  rt       ^•■^■'•^'^ 


k4'fl  A  Vk»**A      ilnf\     nK^4 


:  ;.S35-tJVfil^3*    X*5;-*-?V'w     Vv 


s  j«^t 


^-    31 


the  place,  a  great  part  of  wiiich  was  after^va^ds  dug,  by  the  boys,        A 


90 


HISTOnV  OF  THE  WAR. 


li  I 


^ 


i\ 


out  of  the  sand,  viz.  40  of  321b.  96  of  18lb.  156  of  12's  and;9*s, 
with  a  large  quantity  of  6*s  and  grape,  besides  shells  and'  re- 
mains  of  rockets.  Not  a  man  was  killed  on  the  side  of  the 
Americans  during  this  attack. 

On  the  forenoon  of  the  following  day,  a  number  of  small 
boats  approached  the  shore,  apparently  with  the  intention  of 
landing;  but,  being  gallantly  met  by  the  militia  on  the  beach, 
they  were  recalled  by  a  signal  from  the  squadron. 

In  the  Chesapeake  the  principal  part  of  the  squadron  began 
to  move  up  the  bay  about  the  beginning  of  April.  On  the  3d 
they  anchored  oft'  the  mouth  of  the  Rappahannock,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  attacking  the  Dolphin,  a  privateer  schooner  of  10  guhsj 
and  three  letters  of  marque  bound  for  Fra  ice,  which  had  taken 
shelter  in  the  river  on  the  approach  of  the  squadron. 

Their  tenders  and  launches,  to  the  number  of  1 7,  being  mann- 
ed and  sent  up  the  river,  a  furious  attack  was  made  on  the  ves- 
sels, which  unfortunately  lay  becalmed.  Two  of  the  letters  of 
marque  were  speedily  taken,  they  making  but  a  slight  resis- 
tance; the  third  was  run  ashore,  and  most  of  her  crew  escaped. 
The  Dolphin  bore  the  brunt  of  the  action.  The  whole  force  of 
the  enemy  was  soon  directed  to  her,  and  she  gallantly  sustained 
the  contest  for  two  hours,  when,  at  last,  they  succeeded  in 
boarding  her.  Even  then,  however,  she  did  not  strike.  The 
fight  continued  for  some  time  on  dr  .,  until,  overpowered  by 
numbers,  the  Americans  were  forced  to  submit,  the  enemy  hav- 
ing previously  pulled  down  the  colours. 

A  few  days  previous  to  this  affair,  a  most  unfortunate  action 
took  place  here  between  the  American  privateer  Fox  and  the 
United  States'  schooner  Adeline  and  two  gun-boats.  The 
schooner  and  gun-^boats  were  proceeding  down  the  bay,  under 
the  command  of  lieutenant  Sinclair,  and  at  midnight  made  a 
harbour  under  Gwinn's  island,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rappa- 
hannock. After  having  anchored  in  a  line  across  the  channel, 
Sinelajir  was  hailed  by  the  Fox,  and  each  taking  the  other  to  be 
an  enemy,  and  consequently  refusing  to  send  a  boat  on  boiard, 
Sinclair  fired  a  musket  ahead  of  the  privateer,  which  she  in- 
stantly returned  with  a  broadside. 

The  schooner  and  gun-boats  then  opened  their  fire,  and  in 
fifteen  minutes  silenced  the  privateer.  Being  hailed,  however, 
to  know  if  she  had  struck,  she  renewed  the  action  without  an- 
swering, and  in  fifteen  minutes  more  was  again  silenced.  On 
being  a  second  time  hailed,  she  once  more  opened  her  fire, 
which  she  continued  for  half  an  hour  and  then  cut  hep  cable  and 
escaped  up  the  bay.  On  board  the  Fox  the  captain  and  five  men 
were  badly  wounded,  she  had  one  shot  in  her  hull,  and  her  sails 


lliiTOUY  OF  THE  WAH. 


91 


8cc.  were  very  much  cut.  The  damage  on  board  the  schooner, 
Wiiich  bore  the  brunt  of  the  action,  was  but  small,  only  one  man 
severely  wounded,  and  the  rigging  a  little  cut. 

The  hostile  squadron  continuing  to  stand  up  the  bay,  on  the 
9th  of  April  they  reached  Annapolis,  and  on  the  16th  appeared- 
off  the  mouth  of  the  Patapsco,  twelve  or  fourteen  miles  from 
Baltimore.  Both  Annapolis  and  Baltimore  were  threatened 
with  an  attack,  but  nothing  was  attempted,  the  enemy  careful- 
ly keeping  their  vessels  at  a  safe  distance  from  the  guns  of  the 
forts. 

But  though  the  fortified  towns  escaped  the  vengeance  which 
had  so  long  been  threatened,  it  was  not  the. case  with  the  un- 
protected villages,  which  skirt  the  rivers  that  fall  into  the  head 
of  the  bay,  Four  of  these  were  laid  in  ashes  by  admiral  C6ck- 
burn,  who  gallantly  led  the  barges  which  ascended  the  rivers 
for  this  purpose.  These  plundering  and  burning  expeditions 
will  long  render  his  name  famous  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
Chesapeake  bay. 

Having  sufficiently  signalized  their  prowess  by  the  burning 
of  Frenchtown,  Havre-de-Grace,*  Georgetown,  and  Frederick- 
town,  and  the  farm-houses,  mills.  Sec.  adjoining,  the  squadron 
returned  down  the  bay,  destroying  the  oyster-boats,  wood-shal- 
lops, and  other  river  craft  in  their  progress,  and  show  ng  them- 
selves, but  at  a  convenient  distance,  at  every  fortification  near 
the  bay. 

The  squadron  after  returning  down  the  bay,  resumed  their 
station  in  Hampton  Roads,  with  the  view  of  attacking  Norfolk. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  22d  of  June^  they  landed  a  large 
body  of  troops,  from  the  accounts  of  deserters  about  2500,  on 
the  west  side  of  Elizabeth  river,  and  marched  them  up  towards 
Craney  Island,  the  passage  to  which  from  the  main  land,  is 
fordable  at  low  water.  Forty  or  fifty  boats  full  of  men,  were  then 
sent  to  effect  a  landing  on  the  north  side  of  the  island,  with 
whom  the  force  on  the  main  land  was  directed  to  co-operate.— 
The  whole  force  on  the  island  at  the  time  of  the  attack  was  487, 
riflemen,  infantry,  and  artillery,  and  150  seamen  and  marines, 
forty-three  of  whom  were  on  the  sick  list, — With  this  handful 


/? 


*  The  burning  and  filundering  of  Havrt^-de-Grace  is  fierhafia 
''  the  moat  signal  (>f  Cockburn*s  ex/iloiCs.  The  houses  being  aparty 
had  to  be  aefiarately  set  onjire;  and  the  labour  bestowed  in  in- 
juring the  church  must  have  been  very  considerable^  every  pane ^ 
of  glass  in  the  uuiiuing  having  been  broken  by  siuncs  and  brick- 
bats. 


# 


92 


HISTORY  OF  I  HE  WAR. 


n>i 


1^ 
Ml 


of  men  was  the  lattding  of  the  eneiViy  successfully  opposed,  and 
they  wei'e  forced  to  retreat  to  their  ships,  with  the  loss  of  sev- 
eral boats  by  the  fire  of  the  artillery. 

Foiled  in  their  meditated  attack  on  Norfolk  by  this  repulse 
at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour,  the  British  again  turned  their  at- 
tention to  the  easier  task  of  laying  waste  unprotected  villages, 
and  that  of  Hampton,  which  lay  nearly  opposite,  naturally  pre- 
sented itself.  Here  they  landed  a  body  of  2500  men,  with  but 
little  opposition;  there  being  only  a  small  detachment  of  mili- 
tia encamped  near  the  town,  who  were  soon  Ibrced  to  retreat 
under  a  heavy  fire  of  artillery,  musquetry  and  congreve  rockets. 
The  British  now  took  possession  of  the  village;  and  here  a  hdr- 
rid  scene  of  barbarity  ensued,  which  was  characterised  by  plun- 
der, devastation,  murder,  and  rape.  The  British  troops  short- 
ly after  retreated  to  their  ships,  when  a  correspondence  took 
place  by  means  of  flags  between- general  Taylor,  the  comman- 
dant at  Norfolk,  and  sir  Sidney  Beckwith,  quarter-master-gen- 
eral of  the  British  forces,  on  the  subject  of  these  excesses.  Sir 
Sidney  attempted  to  justify  them  on  the  ground  of  inhumanity 
in  some  of  the  American  troops  on  Craney  Island,  whom  he 
charged  with  having  waded  into  the  river,  and  shot  at  their  un- 
resisting and  yielding  foe,  who  clung  to  the  wreck  of  a  boat 
which  had  been  sunk  by  the  fire  of  their  guns.  This  imputa- 
tion was  promptly  repelled,  and  a  board  of  officers  was  imme- 
diately appointed  to  inveistigate  the  charge.  From  the  evi- 
dence adduced  it  appeared,  that  in  the  action  at  Craney  Island, 
two  of  the  enemy's  boats  in  front  of  their  line  were  sunk  by 
the  fire  of  the  batteries;  the  soldiers  and  sailors  who  were  in 
those  bbats  were  consequently  afloat,  and  in  danger  of  drown- 
ing, and  being  in  front  of  the  boats  that  were  uninjured,  guns 
were  necessarily  fired  in  the  direction  of  the  men  in  the  water, 
but  with  no  intention  whatever  to  do  them  further  harm;  but, 
on  the  contrary,  orders  were  given  to  prevent  this,  by  ceasing 
to  fire  grape,  and  only  to  fire  round  shot;  it  also  was  substan- 
tiated, that  one  of  the  enemy,  who  had  apparently  surrendered, 
advanced  towards  the  shore,  about  one  hundred  yards,  when 
he  suddenly  turned  to  his  right  and  endeavoured  to  make  his 
escape  to  a  body  of  the  enemy  who  had  landed  above  the  island, 
and  who  were  then  in  view;  then,  and  not  till  then,  was  he 
fired  upon  to  bring  him  back,  which  had  the  desired  effect, 
and  he  was  taken  unhurt  to  the  island.  It  further  appeared, 
that  the  American  troops  exerted  themselves  in  acts  of  hospi- 

But  even  if  this  charge  had  been  founded  on  feet,  it  could 
not  have  justified  the  measures  adopted  by  the  British.     The 


'*% 


HISTORY    OF    THE    WAR. 


9f 


r.tts  should  surely  have  been  first  clearly  ascertained  and  re- 
dress  demanded,  before  any  retaliation  was  resortea  to;  espc- 
riallv  a  retaliation  so  extravagant  in  its  measure,  applying  not 
Z  the  perpetrators  of  the  alleged  offence,  nor  to  their  com- 
rades  but  to  the  unresisting,  innocent,  and  helpless. 

Durinff  the  remainder  of  the  summer,  hostile  demonstration., 
were  made  by  the  British  squadron  in  various  points  on  the 
waters  of  the  Chesapeake,  particularly  at  Washington,  Anna-  ; 
polls,  and  Baltimore,  in  which,  if  the  aim  of  the  enemy  was 
merely  to  harrass,  they  were  certainly  eminently  successful. 
A  nart  of  the  Chesapeake  squadron,  under  admira  Cockburn, 
likewise  appeared  off  Ocracock  bar.  North  Carohna,  where 
their  barces  destroyed  two  privateers,  and  landed  a  number  ot 
men  at  Portsmouth  and  Ocracock,  who  committed  a  number 
of  wanton  depredations.  ^      ,   ,  ^      \ 

The  British  squadron  off  New  York  confined  themselves  to 
keeping  up  a  strict  blockade.   The  American  frigates  United 
States  Ind  Macedonian,   and  the  sloop  of  war  Hornet,  sailed 
from  New  York  on  a  cruize  in  the  beginning  of  May.     tmd- 
inff,  however,  that  a  much  superior  force  lay  off  the  Hook, 
th?y  put  back,  and  on  the  25th  passed  through  Hell-gate,  witu 
the  intention  of  putting  to  sea  through  tne  sound.  1  his  inten- 
tion was  frustrated  by  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy  m   hat 
Quarter,  by  which  they  were  several  times  driven  back,  and  on 
the  first  of  June  they  were  chased  into  New  London  by  two 
74's  and  a  frigate,  which  immediately  anchored  off  that  place, 
and  in  a  few  days  were  joined  by  the  force  that  had  been  Block- 
ading off  the  Hook.  As  the  movements  of  the  Biitish  indicat- 
ed an  intention  of  attacking  New  London,   prompt  measures 
were  taken  for  its  defence.      Six.  hundred  militia  were  cuUcd 
out,  and  to  insure  the  safety  of  his  squadron,  commodore  De- 
catur landed  a  number  of  his  guns;   which  were  mounted  m  a 
battery,  and  the  vessels,  thus  lightened,  proceeded  up  the  riv- 
er; where  they  were  secure  from  any  attempt  of  the  larger  ves- 
sels of  the  enemy.  .         rr.^  1       *^      M^o 

New  London  is  situated  on  the  river  Thames,  about  7  miles 
from  Long  Island  sound,  and  can  be  approached  by  ships  o 
any  draught  of  water.  The  channel,  however,  is  narrow,  and 
completely  commanded  by  the  surrounding  heights,  which 
were  so  strongly  fortified,  as  to  deter  the  squadron  from  any 
hostile  attempt.  They  contented  themselves,  therefore,  with 
keepiuK  up  a  blockade,  and  making  a  few  predatory  excur- 
sions  on  Long  ibiana  ana  mc  iicr5|iouu,.„^  ,..^„, 

An  act  was  passed  by  congress  in  the  wmter  of  1812^ Ki,  to 
encourage  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  blockading  vessels, 

I 


y**^ 


94 


inSTOUy    OF    THE  WAR. 


ifi-'.  4h 


i::r 


by  a  bounty  of  half  the  value  of  the  vessel  destroyed,  if  effect ' 
od  by  any  other  means  than  by  the  armed  or  commissioned 
vessels  (  the  United  States,  in  consequence  of  which  several 
abortive  attempts  M'ere  made.  The  two  most  remarkable  were 
those  against  the  Ramilies,  off  New  London,  and  against  the 
Plantagenet,  off  cape  Henry,  at  the  nvouth  of  the  Chesapeake 

The  attempt  on  the  Ramilies  was  made  on  the  25th  of  June 
1  he  schooner  Eagle  was  loaded  at  New  York  with  a  number 
ot  flour  barrels  filled  with  gun-powder,  in  one  of  which  was 
fixed  a  gun-lock,  with  a  string  to  the  trigger  made  fast  to  the 
bottom  of  the  vessel.  Over  these  were  placed  a  few  barrels 
ol  damaged  Hour.  Thus  prepared,  she  threw  herself  in  the 
way  of  the  boats  of  the  blockading  squadron  off  New  London, 
and  on  their  coming  up  to  take  possession  of  her,  the  crew 
took  to  their  boats,  and  made  their  escape.  It  was  expected 
that  the  schooner  would  be  taken  along  side  of  the  families  to 
unload;  but  the  wind  and  tide  being  against  them,  and  night 
coming  on,  it  was  determined  to  unload  as  much  of  the  flour 
m  the  boats  as  could  conveniently  be  done.  When  they  came 
to  the  barrel  of  powder  in  which  the  gun-lock  was  placed,  and 
Jiooked  the  tackle  to  hoist  it  on  deck,  it  sprung  the  trigger, 
and  blew  up  the  schooner  and  all  on  board  and  around  her,  and 
in  a  few  seconds  not  a  vestige  of  them  was  to  be  seen. 

The  attempt  on  the  Plantagenet  was  made  in  the  month  of 
July,  by  means  of  a  torpedo.  On  the  night  of  the  18th,  Mr. 
Mix,  of  the  United  States  navy,  accompanied  by  two  persons 
who  volunteered  for  the  purpose,  proceeded  from  Norfolk 
down  to  the  Plantagenet,  in  a  large  open  boat,  and  from  pre- 
vious observations  found  no  difficulty  in  ascertaining  her  posi- 
tion. When  Mix  hacVgot  to  within  40  fathom  of  her,  he  drop- 
ped the  torpedo  oveiV  in  the  very  instant  of  doing  which  he 
was  hailed  by  one  of  the  enemy's  guard  boats.  The  machine 
was  speedily  taken  into  the  boat  again,  and  he  made  his  way 
off  m  safety.  On  the  night  of  the  19th  he  made  another  at- 
tempt, and  was  again  discovered  ere  he  could  accomplish  his 
purpose.  On  the  night  of  the  20th  he  succeeded  in  getting 
^v^thin  1 5  yards  of  the  ship's  bow,  and  directly  under  her  jib- 
boom.  There  he  continued  making  his  preparations  for  15 
minutes,  when  a  centinel  from  the  forecastle  hailed  *  boat  ahoyl' 
and  he  had  once  more  to  decamp.  The  centinel  not  being  an- 
swered, fired  his  musket,  which  was  followed  hv  a  rapid  dis- 
rharge  of  small  arms.  Blue  lights  were  made  to  find  out  the 
boat,  hut  failed;  they  then  threw  rockets  in  different  directions, 
♦vlii.  a  iilumiiiated  the  water  for  a  considerable  width  as  far  as 


r 


^ed,  if  effect 
ommissioned 
k'hich  several 
arkable  were 
d  against  the 
Chesapeake 

25th  of  June, 
ith  a  number 
f  which  was 
le  fast  to  tlie 

few  barrels 
erself  in  the 
^ew  London, 
r,  the  crew 
ms  expected 
I  ilamilies  to 
1,   and  night 

of  the  flour 
1  they  came 
I  placed,  and 
the  trigger, 
imd  her,  and 
seen. 

he  month  of 
e  18th,  Mr. 
two  persons 
om  Norfolk 
id  from  pre- 
ng  her  posi- 
jr,  he  drop- 
g  which  he 
'he  machine 
ade  his  way 

another  at- 
:omplish  his 
I  in  getting 
der  her  jib- 
tions  for  15 
*  boat  ahoy  I' 
ot  being  an- 

n  rnniH  r1i«. 
_  -_j — 

find  out  the 
t  directions, 
Jth  as  far  as 


/^ 


■ 


n 


^ 


HI3TO.RY  OF  THE  WAU. 


VS 


*> 


ihey  were  thrown,  and  succeeded  in  discovering  t^\e  posiiion 
of  the  nocturnal  visitor;  when  the  ship  commenced  a  rapid  fiie 
of  heaw  guns,  slipped  her  cables,  and  made  some  sail,  while 
her  boats  were  despatched  in  pursuit.     The  daring  intruder.,, 
however,    escaped  unhurt.     The   visit  was  repeated   on  the 
nights  of  the  2lst,  22d,  and  23d,  without  success,  as  the  ship, 
having  taken  the  alarm,  changed  her  position  every  night.  On 
the  night  of  the  24th,  however,  Mr.  Mix  succeeded  m  findni<; 
herout,  and  having  taken  his  ^  osition  within  100  yards  distance 
in  a  direction  with  her  larboard  bow,  he  dropped  the  tatal  ma- 
chhie  into  the  water  just  as  the  centinel  was  crying  all's  well. 
It  was    wept  along  with  the  tide,  and  would  hr    ^  completely 
effected  its  errand,  it  is  said,  had  it  not  exploded  a  few  seconds 
too  soon.     The  scene  was  awfully  sublinie.     It  was  like  the 
concussion  of  an  earthquake,  attended  with  a  sound  louder  ami 
more  terri^c  then  the  heaviest  peal  of  thunder.  A  pyramid  of 
water  50  feet  in  circumference  was  thrown  up  to  the  height  of 
30  or  40  feet;  its  appearance  was  a  vivid  red,  tinged  at  ilsc 
sides  with  a  beautiful  purple.     On  ascending  to   its  greatest 
height,    it  burst  at  the  top  with  a  tremendous  explosion,  and 
fell  in  torrents  on  the  deck  of  the  sliip,  which  rolled  into  the 
yawning  chasm  below,    and  had  nearly   upset.     Impervious 
darkness  again  prevailed.      The  light  occasioned  by  the  ex- 
plosion, though  fleeting,  enabled  Mr.  Mix  and  his  compuaioi.s 
to  discover  that  the  forechannel  of  the  ship  wasblov  n  off",  aiM 
a  boat  which  lay  alongside  with  several  men  in  her,  wafi  throw  n 
up  in  the  dreadful  convulsion  of  the  waters.  Terrible,  indeed, 
mu^t  have  been  the  panic  of  the  ship's  crew,  from  the  noise 
and  confusion  which  appeared  to  our  adventurers  to  prevail  on 
board;  and  they  are  certain  that  nearly  the  whole  ships's  crew 
hastily  betook  themselves  to  the  boats. 

The  following  minute  and  interesting  account  of  the  naval 
conflict  on  lake  Erie,  was  written  by  an  eye-witness. — "  Com- 
modore Perry  arrived  at  Erie  in  June,  with  five  small  vessels, 
from  Black  Rock.  The  Queen  Charlotte  and  Lady  Prevosl, 
were  cruising  ofTLong  Point  to  intercept  him— he  passed  them 
in  the  night  unperceived.  The  Lawrence  and  Niagara  were 
then  on  the  stocks — every  exertion  was  made  to  expedite  their 
building  and  equipment,  and  early  in  August  they  were  ready 
to  sail.  But  it  was  necessary,  to  pass  the  bar  at  the  entrance 
of  the  harbour,  over  which  there  was  but  six  feet  water,  and' 
the  brigs  drew  nine.  The  British  fleet  appeared  of!"  the  har- 
bour, for  the  purpose  of  preventing  ours  from  going  to  lake' — 
'The  laeans  employed  by  our  omccrs  to  take  the  brigs  over  the 
bar,  were  ingenious  and  deserve  mention.    Two  large  sco»ws. 


V 

■  •  A 

1 
t 

' ' if? \ 

,  ■  ■'  '  w 

'W  in 

•'%■    13 


-^i^u. 


P6 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


! 


I  >^ 


> 


fifty  feet  long,  ten  feet  wide,  and  eight  feet  deep,  were  prepar- 

ed they  were  first  filled  with  water  and  then  floated  along 

side  one  ©f  the  vessels  in  a  parallel  direction;  they  were  then 
secured  by  means  of  large  pieces  of  hewn  timber  placed 
athwart  ship,  with  both  ends  projecting  from  the  port  holes 
across  the  scows;  the  space  between  the  timbers  and  the  beat, 
being  secured  by  other  pieces  property  arranged;   the  water 
was  then  bailed  from  the  scows,  thereby  giving  them  an  aston- 
ishiog  lifting  power.    It  was  thus  that  .the  bar  was  passed,  be- 
fore  the  enemy  had  taken  the  proper  steps  to  oppose  it.     One 
obstacle  was  surmounteu,  but  the-  fleet  was  not  in  a  condition 
to  seek  the  enemy    A  Maiden.     There  was  not  at  this  time 
more  than  half  sailors  enough  to  man  the  fleet.     However,  a 
number  of  Pennsylvania  militia  having  volunteered  their  ser- 
vices, the  commodore  made  a  short  cruize  off  Long  Point, 
more  perhaps,  for  the  purpose  of  f  xercising  his  men  than 

seeking  an  enemy.  \  r  r^  -      . 

«  About  the  last  of  August  commodore  Perry  lett  tMiie,  to 
i^o-cperate  with  general  Harrison  in  the  reduction  of  Maiden. 
He  anchored  off  the  mouth  of  Sandusky  river,  and  had  an  in- 
t^rview  wit!  general  Harrison,  who  furnished  him  with  about 
seventy  volunteers,  principally  Kentuckians,  to  serve  as  ma- 
1  ines  on  board  the  fleet.  Captain  Dobbin,  in  ihe  Ohio,  was  cr- 
lU  red  to  return  to  Efc  for  provisionsc  The  Amelia  had  been 
h'h  there  for  want  of  men  to  man  her.  Exclusive  of  these  he 
\vm\  nine  sail,  mounting  in  all  fifty-four  guns.  The  British  fleet 
iH  Maiden,  consisted  of  six  sail,  and  mounted  sixty-six  guns. 

"  Commodore  Perry  appeared  before  Maiden,  offeied  battle, 
reconnoitered  the  enemy  and  retired  to  Put-in-Bay,  thirty^five 
miles  distant  from  his  antagonist.  Both  parties  remained  a 
lew  days  inactive;  but  their  repose  was  that  of  the  lion.     • 

"  Oi)  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  September  at  sunrise,  the 


rut-m-oay.    i>i«».  «  inumcuL  »t»o  w^,  ^^  . —    j    i    *«  •  •  u 

immediately  got  under  way,  and  stood  out  to  meet  the  British 
fleet,  which  at  this  time  had  the  weather  gage.  At  10  A.  M. 
the  wind  shifted  from  S.  W.  to  S.  E.  which  brought  our  squad- 
ron to  windward.  The  wind  was  lignt-— the  day  beautiful— not 
a  cloud  obscured  the .  horizon.  The  line  was  formed  at  II, 
and  commodore  Perry  caused  an  elegant  flag,  which  he  had 
privately  prepared,  to  be  hoisted  at  the  mast-head  ot  the  Law- 
rence; on  this  flag  was  painted,  in  characters  legible  to  the 
whole  fleet,  the  dyinff  words  of  the  immortal  Lawuenoe:-- 
^>  Don't  give  up  the'ship.*'     its  eflect  is  not  tc  be  uescriu^ 


HISTORY   or   THE   WAR. 


97 


..l-cvery  Iteart  was  electriHed.  The  crews  ^^^^^^-^^-^^j;  ^J^; 

opened  »P°"  ^''^Jir^  .^"^^edl^^^^^^^       fire  from  the  enemy's 
ed  to  sustain  a  well  °'""r   .        V|»  to  return  it  with  carron- 

nart  6f  her  crew  left  unhurt  upon  deck. 

^  «  A   half  past  two  the  wind  increased  -";lj^"^f  ^'^^^^^Jl^^^^ 
eara to  come  into  close  action-the  S""'^^?*^ ^  ^l/nf  l'  Yar- 
tZn,     Commodore  Perry  left  his  ship  m  charge  of  L.  Yar 
ne  land  went  on  ^oard  the  Niagara.     Just  as  he  reached  that 
Tesserthe  flag  of  the  LawrencI  came  dowp;  the  cm^^ Jvf  \^; 

rived. '  CaptaL  Elliot  at  this  -?-- ^^l^f  tX^^^^ 
of  the  commodore,  by  voluntecnng  his  sei  vices  to  ormg  i 

schooners  into  close  action.  .      •       i  ,„«„  ^«Hf»  for  close 

Srthe?omSor^''da:rLne7.o  pass  W  the  cnemy^ 
line;  he  accordingly  bore  up  and  passed  ahead  »»  «?«"/"?"' 
Queen  Charlotte  and  Lady  Prevost,  pounng  a  '"/*'«  ^"^^"S   . 
L  into  them  from  the  starboard  guns,  ""^  °"  t'^^«.^,''^PP^'SiY. 
,„jrT  ittle  Helt  from  the  larboard  side,  at  halt  pistol  snoi  uk 
?»c^    The  smaU  vessels  at  this  time  having  got  withm  grape 
Td  cani].t  dtonce,  kept  up  a  well  directed  and  d- U-ucUve 
TZ.    The  action  now  raged  with  the  greatest  fury— the  Queen 
CharlTu:,  S Tost  he^r  commander  and  several  of  her  prine^ 
n»l  officers,  in  a  moment  of  confusion  got  foul  of  the  Uetroit,  W 
?ht ttua'r^e Tnemy  in  their  turn  had  to  sustain  a^remen- 
dnns  fire  without  the  powerof  returning  it  with  iVmch  eftect,  tne 
camaee  wrhorribl^the  flags  of  the  Detroit,  Queen  Charlot- 
terd^LaTy  Pr  vost,  were  struck  in  rapid  succession  The  bng 
HuMe^Md  schooner  Chippewa,  were  ^on/""'?""*/ '"-J"  " 
low  the  ™ample.  The  Little  Belt  attemptedto  escape  to  Mal- 
dTn,  but  sirwas  pursued  by  two  of  the  gun-boats  and  sarren- 
der^d  about  three  miles  distant  from  the  scene  of  ««»"• 

. «,.  .  ^--^^-  ^e  ^v.:-  o^^/Mjnt.  in  comoanv  with  hve  otners,. 
arriveLrSehe";dorP;Un:"Bay  island;  on  the  evenU.R  of  t)ie 


l3 


93 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAK. 


''Ml 


h  ) 


9th,  and  had  a  view  of  the  action,  at  the  distance  of  only  ten 
miles.  The  spectacle  was  truly  grand  and  awful.  The  firing 
was  incessant,  for  the  space  of  three  hours,  and  continued  at 
short  intervals  forty-five  minutes  longer.  In  less  than  one 
hour  after  the  battle  began,  most  of  the  veesels  of  both  fleets 
were  enveloped  in  a  cloud  of  smoke,  which  rendered  the  issue 
of  the  action  uncertain,  till  the  next  morning,  when  we  visited 
the  fleet  in  the  harbour  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  island.  The 
reader  will  easily  judge  of  our  solicitude  to  learn  the  result. 
There  is  no  sentiment  more  painful  than  suspense,  when  it  is 
excited  by  the  uncertain  issue  of  an  event  like  this. 

«  If  the  wind  had  continued  at  S.  W.  it  was  the  intention  of 
admiral  Barclay  to  have  boarded  our  squadron;  for  this  pur- 
pose he  had  taken  on  board  of  his  fleet  about  200  of  the  famous 
4 1  St  regiment;  they  acted  as  marines  and  fought  bravely,  but 
nearly  two  thirds  of  them  were  either  killed  or  wounded. 

"  The  carnage  on  board  the  prizes  was  prodigious— they 
must  have  lost  200  in  killed  besides  wounded.  The  sides  ot  the 
Detroit  and  Queen  Charlotte  were  shattered  from  bow  to  stern; 
there  was  scarcely  room  to  place  one's  hand  on  their  larboard 
sides  without  touching  the  impression  of  a  shot— a  great  many 
balls,  canister  and  grape,  were  found  lodged  in  their  bulwarks, 
which  were  too  thick  to  be  penetrated  by  our  carronades  unless 
within  pistol  sh^  distance.  Their  masts  were  so  much  shat- 
tered that  they  fell  overboard  soon  after  they  got  into  the  bay. 

«  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  severe,  particularly  on 
board  the  Lawrence.  When  her  flag  was  struck  she  had  but 
nine  men  fit  for  duty  remaining  on  deck.  Her  sides  were  com 
^.letejy  riddled  by  the  shot  from  the  long  guns  of  the  British 
ships.  Her  deckj  the  morning  after  the  conflict,  when  I  fftst 
went  on  board,  exhibited  a  scene  that  defies  description — for  it 
was  literally  covered  with  blood,  which  still  adhered  to  the 
plank  in  clots — brains,  hair  and  fragments  of  bones  were  still 
sticking  to  the  rigging  and  sides.  The  surgeons  were  still 
busy  with  the  wounded — enoughl  horror  appalled  my  senses. 

"  Among  the  wounded  were  several  brave  fellows,  each  of 
U'hom  had  lost  a  leg  or  an  arm — they  appeared  cheerful  and 
expressed  a  hope  that  they  had  done  their  duty.  Tlome  and 
Sparta  would  have  been  proud  of  these  heroes. 

"  It  would  be  invidious  to  particularize  instances  of  indivi- 
dual merit,  where  every  one  so  nobly  performed  his  part.  Of 
the  nine  seamen  remaining  unhurt  at  the  time  the  Lawrence 
struck  her  flag,  five  were  immediately  promoted  for  their  un- 
shaken firmness  in  such  a  trying  situ^ipn.  The  mo&t  of  the»e 
had  been  in  the  actions  \>ith  the  Guerrier?  and  Java. 


jmm^m»mm 


1  ioTORY  0¥  THE  WAR. 


99 


«  Every  officer  of  the  Lawrence,  except  the  commodore  and 
his  little  brother,  a  promising  youth,  13  years  old,  were  either 
killed  or  wounded.  i . 

«  The  efficacy  of  the  gun-boats  was  fully  proved  m  this  ac 
tion,  and  the  sterns  of  all  the  prizes  bear  ample  tesUmony  of 
he  fact.  They  took  raking  positions  and  galled  the  enemy 
severely.  The  Lady  Prevost  lost  twelve  men  before  either  of 
he  bri^s  fired  on  her.  Their  fire  was  quick  and  precise.  Let 
us  hea?  the  enemy.  The  general  oMer  of  Adjutant  General 
Baynes,  contains  the  following  words:  «  His  [Perry's]  numer- 
ous  gun  boats,  [four]  which  had  proved  the  greatest  annoyance 
durine  the  action,  were  all  uninjured."  .  ,    . .  •     . 

«  The  undaunted  bravery  of  admiral  Barclay  entitled  him  to 
a  better  fate;  to  the  loss  of  the  day  was  superadded  grievous 
and  daneerous  wounds:  he  had  before  lost  an  arm,  it  was  now 
his  hard^fortune  to  lose  the  use  of  the  other,  by  a  shot  which 
carried  away  the  blade  of  the  right  shoulder;  a  canister  shot 
made  a  violent  contusion  in  his  hip:  his  wounds  were  for  some 
day.  considered  mortal.  Every  possible  attention  was  paid  to 
his  situation.  When  commodore  Perry  sailed  for  B^ff^loe,  he 
was  so  far  recovered  that  he  took  passage  on  board  our  fleet. 
The  fleet  touched  at  Erie.  The  citizens  saw  the  affecting 
spectacle  of  Harrison  and  Perry  leading  the  wounded  British 
Hero,  still  unable  to  walk  without  help,  from  the  beach  to  their 

'""t^ofboard  the  Detroit,  twenty-four  hours  after  her  surren- 
der, were  found  snugly  stowed  away  in  the  hold,  tjo  Indian 
Chiefs,  who  had  the  courage  to  go  on  board  at  M^den,  for  the 
purpose  of  acting  as  sharp  shooters  to  kill  our  officers.  One 
had^he  courage  to  ascend  into  the  round  top  and  discharge 
his  piece,  but  the  whizzing  of  shot,  splinters,  and  bits  of  rigg- 
ing,^soon  made  the  place  too  warm  fo^^im-he  descended 
faster  than  he  went  up;  at  the  moment  he  reached  tne  deck, 
the  fragments  of  a  seaman's  head  struck  ^is  comrade  s  face, 
and  covered  it  with  blood  and  brains.  He  vociferates  the  sav- 
age  interjection  «  guohr  and  both  sought  safety  below. 

«  The  British  officers  had  domesticated  a  dear  at  Maiden. 
Bruin  accorvpanied  his  comrades  to  battle-was  on  the  deck 
of  the  Deti* :ll  during  the  engagement,  and  escaped  unhuit.^ 
"  The  killed  of  both  fleets  were  thrown  overboard  as  tast  as 
they  fell.  Several  were  washed  ashore  upon  the  island  and  the 
main  durinc  the  gales  that  succeeded  the  action. 

rcom3ore  Perry  treated  the  prisoners  with  humamty 
Jind  indulgence;  aeverai  v^anauians,  uavxij^i  ..iT-.-- . 
were  permitted  to  visit  their  families  on  parole. 


.•  "ifi 


100 


HISTORY  OJ  THE  WAR. 


II  f 


«  The  British  were  superior  in  the  length  and  number  of 
their  guns,  as  well  as  in  the  number  of  men.  The  American 
fleet  was  manned  with  a  motly  set  of  beings,  Europeans,  Afri- 
cans,  Americans  from  every  part  of  the  United  States.  Full 
one  fourth  were  Slacks.  I  saw  one  Ruasiarty  who  could  not 
speak  a  word  of  English.  They  were  brave — and  who  could 
be  otherwise  under  the  command  of  Perry? 

«  The  day  after  the  battle,  the  funeral  obsequies  of  the  Ame. 
rican  and  British  officers,  who  had  fallen  in  the  action,  were 
performed,  in  an  appropriate  and  affecting  manner.    An  open, 
ing  on  the  margin  of  the  bay,  was  selected  for  the  interment 
of  the  bodies.  The  crews  of  both  fleets  attended.  The  weather 
was  fine — the  elements  seemed  to  participate  in  the  solemni- 
ties of  the  day,  for  every  breeze  was  hushed,  and  not  a  wave 
ruffled  the  surface  of  the  water.    The  procession  of  boats— 
the  ne^t  appearance  of  the  officers  and  men — the  music— -the 
slow  and  regular  motion  of  the  oars,  striking  in  exact  time 
with  the  notes  of  the  solemn  dirge— the  mournful  waving  of 
the  flags — the  sound  of  the  minute  guns  from  the  different 
ships  in  the  harbour — the  wild  and  solitary  aspect  of  the  place 
— the  stillness  of  nature,  g^ve  to  the  scene  an  air  of  melancho- 
ly  grandeur,  better  felt  than  described — all  acknowledged  its 
influence— all  were  sensibly  affected.     What  a  contrast  did  it 
exhibit  to  the  terrible  conflict  of  the  preceding  dayl  Then  the 
people  of  the  two  squadrons  were  engaged  in  the  deadly  strife 
of  arms.     Now  they  associated  like  brothers,  to  pay  the  last 
sad  tribute  of  respect  to  the  dead  of  both  nations. 

«  Five  ofiicers  were  interred,  two  American  and  three  British. 
Lt.  Brooks  and  midshipman  Laub  of  the  Lawrence;  captain 
Finnis  and  lieutenant  Stokoe  of  the  Queen  Charlotte,  and  lieu- 
tenant Garland  of  the  Detroit.  The  graves  are  but  a  few  paces 
from  the^beach,  and  the  future  traveller  of  either  nation,  will 
find  no  memento  whereBy  he  may  distinguish  the  American 
from  the  British  hero. 

«  The  marines  of  our  fleet  were  highly  complimented  by  the 
commodore,  for  their  good  conduct;  although  it  was  the  first 
time  most  of  them  had  seen  a  squai-e  rigged  vessel.**  The 
greater  part  of  them  were  volunteers  from  the  militia  regi- 
ment, commanded  by  colonel  Reese  Hill,  then  stationed  at 
Erie,  which  was  raised  in  the  counties  of  Centre,  Huntingdon, 
and  Mifflin,  Pennsylvania;  a  few  were  Kentuckians,  all  of 
whom  "proved,  on  this  occasion,  as  has  the  commodore  since, 
ihaltiiey  can  fight  Ou  both  elements." 

As  soon  as  the  prisoners  and  wounded  were  landed,  the  fleet 
was  employed  in  concentrating  general  Harrison's  army,  by 


"i^k 


HISTORY    OF    THE  WAR- 


101 


.',ncr  them  from  Portaee  River  and  Fort  Meigs  to  Put- 
!Tr    Thi^duty  wTs  comi^eted  about  the  20th  of  Septem.- 

"^•^^^*  A  nn  the  22d  about  1200  of  the  troops  were  landed  by 
ber,  and  on  the  22d  aoout  i  ^^^^^  ^^^^^^^     ^^ 

ilUertar  VrP/Tr",  ZT.^^^y  n.Ues  from  De- 
?roitrieav"ng  tSe  Michigan  lerritory  in  the  possession  of  the 
Americans.  ,  ^^^j  Harrison  left  Sandwich  in 

""     ,ff  pilf^th  about    40  regulars,  colonel  Johnson's 
pui-smt  of  Pioctor,  wun  auou  8        ,     ^  ^ndcr  the 

St.  Clair,  twemy  uy^  ""  u^,i_.   which  Proctor  had  ne- 

and  next  morning  crossed  by  a  ^J^fSf'^Xat  the  head  of  the 

ran  between  him  and  the  P"^»»^^^^J"y '  ,  ^Vivates,  who  had  been 

Kpeictly  destroyed,  ^ --^6": ^^Sd  1/ Oc": 
passed  over  and  encamped,  on  the  evening  oi 

'"The  baeKa-,  had  thus  lar  been  brought  in  boats  accompa- 
1  ne  Ddgijao  >  ""  J  .p  „p/.peQarv  to  cover  the 

nied  '>y  B«--''-\^;°J™  rtVe%Wer     bu^^^^^^^^^^^^^      above  be- 

hundred  of  the  Indians  attempted  to  dispute  we  passage  o.  i 
t™t  b^t  the  Hre  from  two  »!-PO»nde«_soon^drove  t^^^^^^^ 

and  in  about  two  hours  the  oriuftc  was  i^i^^x*-- -- -  -  .  . 


wn 


■jr 


102 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


H 


crossed,  just  in  time  to  extinguish  a  houf.e  that  had  been  set  on 
fire  containing  a  considerable  number  of  muskets;  which  wert 
fortunately  saved.  At  the  first  farm  above  the  bridge  was  found 
one  of  the  enemy's  vessels  on  fire,  and  here  intelligence  was 
received  that  they  were  but  a  few  miles  ahead. 

The  army  halted  for  the  night  about  four  miles  above  the 
bridge,  where  they  found  two  other  vessels  and  a  large  distil- 
levy,  filled  with  ordnance  and  other  valuable  stores  to  an  im- 
mcnse  amount,  in  flames.  It  was  impossible  to  extinguish  the 
fire,  but  two  mounted  twenty-four  pounders  were  taken,  and  a 
large  quantity  of  ball  and  shells  of  various  sizes.  Early  on  the 
^noming  of  the  5th  the  troops  were  again  put  in  motion,  and  in 
the  afternoon  the  officer  commanding  the  advance  sent  to  in- 
form general  Harrison  that  his  progress  was  stopped  by  the 
enemy,  who  were  formed  across  the  line  of  march. 

Between  the  two  armies^  the  road  passed  through  an  un. 
cleared  beech  forest,  pretty  clear  of  underwood,  near  the  banks 
of  the  river,  parallel  to  which,  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three 
hundred  yards,  extended  a  swamp  several  miles  in  length.-* 
Across  this  strip  of  land  the  British  were  drawn  up;  their  left 
resting  on  the  river  supported  by  artillery,  their  right  on  the 
swampf  covered  by  the  Indians. 

The  American  troops  were  now  formed  in  order  of  battle. 
General  Trotter's  brigade  formed  the  front  line,  his  right  upon 
the  road,  and  his  left  upon  the  swamp,  with  general  Desha's 
division,  consisting  of  two  brigade,  formed  en  fiotence*,  upon 
his  left.  General  King's  brigade  formed  a  second  line,  1 50 
ys(rds  in  the  rear  of  Trotter's;  and  Chiles'  brigade,  a  corps  of 
reserve  in  the  rear.  Trotter's,  King's,  and  Chiles'  brigades 
formed  the  command  of  major-general  Henry.  Each  brigade 
averaged  nearly  500  men.  The  crotchet  formed  by  Desha's 
division  was  occupied  by  Shelby,  the  governor  of  Kentucky,  a 
veteran  of  sixty-six  years  of  age,  who  had  distinguished  him- 
self in  the  revolutionary  war  at  King's  Mountain.  The  regu- 
lar troops,  who  now  amounted  only  to  120  men,  occupied  in 
columns  of  sections  of  four,  the  small  space  between  the  road 
and  the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  seizing  the  enemy's  artillery, 
and  ten  or  twelve  friendly  Indians  were  directed  to  move  under 
the  bank.     Harrison  had  directed  Johnson's  mounted  infantry 


w> 


♦"  Troofii  are  ranged  en  potence  by  breaking  a  straight  lincy 
and  throwing  a  certain  fir o/iortion  of  it  either  /oriwird  or  back- 

xi/ut  UyjrOifl  lite  ii^iiiut  ^Kf^j  QCCUs  ulTlg'  lu  c*#  tr**##*5ti**'*cr^jy  V7    tnz: 

purpose  of  securing  thtit  «w<r.— Duane's  Militaj-y  Dictionary. 


id  been  set  on 
i;  which  wert 
Igc  \va£  found 
elligence  was 

les  above  the 
a  large  distil- 
>re8  to  an  im* 
sxtinguish  the 
I  taken,  and  a 
Early  on  the 
[notion,  and  in 
ice  ser.t  to  in- 
topped  by  the 
:h. 

trough  an  un. 
lear  the  banks 
■  two  or  three 
s  in  length.-* 
I  up;  their  left 
r  right  on  the 

rder  of  battle. 
his  right  upon 
nerai  Desha's 
lotence*,  upon 
:ond  line,  150 
ide,  a  corps  of 
iiles*  brigades 
Each  brigade 
ed  by  Desha's 
►f  Kentucky,  a 
iguished  him- 
1.  The  regu- 
n,  occupied  in 
ween  the  road 
imy's  artillery, 
to  move  under 
unted  infantry 


2  straight  line^ 
'itfard  or  back- 

* T^^    St.. 

y  Dictionary. 


HlSTOaY  0»  THK  WAR. 


103 


to  fonn  in  1*70  lines  opposite  to  the  enemy,  and,  when  the  in- 
fantry advanced  to  take  ground  to  the  left,  and,  forming  upon 
that  flank,  to  endeavour  to  turn  the  right  of  the  Indians,     it 
was  perceived,  however,  that  it  would  be  impracticable  fov 
them  to  do  any  thing  on  horseback  in  that  quarter,  owing  tath^ 
thickness  of  the  woods  and  swampiness  of  the  ground.   A  m^ 
sure  altogether  novel  was  therefore  determined  on,  which  yra» 
crowned  with  the  most  signal  success.— The  American  back- 
woodsmen ride  better  in  the  woods  than  any  other  people.     A 
musket  or  rifle  is  no  impediment  to  them,  being  accustomed  to 
carry  them  on  horseback  from  their  earliest  youth.    A  charge 
was  determined  on,  and  accordingly  the  regiment  was  drawn  up 
in  close  column,  with  its  right  at  the  distance  ol  fifty  yards 
from  the  noad,  that  it  might  in  some  measure  be  protected  by 
the  trees  from  the  artillery,  and  the  left  upon  the  swamp.  . 

The  army  moved  on  in  this  order  but  a  short  distance,  when 
the  mounted  men  received  the  fire  of  the  British  line,  and  were 
instantly  ordered  to  charge.  The  horses  in  the  front  of  the,  co- 
lumn recoiled  from  the  fire;  but  on  receiving  a  second  fire,  the 
column  got  into  motion,  and  immediately,  at  full  speed,  broke 
through  the  enemy  with  irresistible  force.  In  one  minute  the 
contest  was  over  in  front.  The  British  officers  seeing  no  hope 
of  reducing  their  disordered  ranks  to  order,  the  mounted  in- 
fantry wheeling  upon  them,  and  pouring  in  a  destructive  fire, 
immediately  surrendered.  Only  three  of  the  Americans  were 
wounded  in  this  charge.  .  ,     .     t 

Upon  the  American  left,  however,  the  contest  with  the  In- 
dians was  more  severe.    Colonel  Johnson,  who  commanded  on 
that  flank  of  his  regiment,  received  a  most  galling  fire  from 
them,  which  was  returned  with  great  effect.     The  Indiana  still 
further  to  the  left  advanced,  and  fell  in  with  the  frontline  of  in- 
fantry near  its  junction  with  the  division  en  potencej  and  for  a 
moment  made  an  impression  upon  it.    Governor  Shelby,  how- 
ever, who,  as  already  stated,  \fas  stationed  near  this  point, 
brdught  up  a  regiment  to  its  support.    The  enemy  no#  receiv- 
ed a  severe  fire  in  front,  and  a  part  of  the  mounted  men  having 
gained  their  rear,  they  immediately  retreated  with  precipitation. 
The  moment  had  now  arrived  which  was  to  prove  whether 
the  stigma  which  had  been  tlirown  on  our  Kentucky  brethren 
was  founded  o^^uth  or  falsehood;  when  it  was  to  be  seen 
whether  they  wejpp  "  a  ferocious  and  mortal  foe,  using,  the 
name  mode  oi  wi^re*'*  with  the  allies  of  Britain.    The  troops 


"J^- 
im^ 


*  Geficral  Brock's  Prodamatior., 


104 


HISTORY    OF    THE   WAK. 


i'l, 


m 


'ill. 


who  had  now  completely  in  their  power  the  army  under  whoM 
Tye,  had  been  acted  the  tragedy  of  the  "ver  Ra.sin,  and  th. 
which  was  acted  on  the   Miami  after  the  defeat  of  colonel 
Dudlev,  were  almost  exclusively  composed  of  Kentuckians, 
of  men  who  had  lost  their  brothers  or  friends  .n  those  shock- 
?ne.  scenes      Nor  were  even  the  instruments  of  vengeance 
wfating     They  were  accompanied  by  the  savages,  that  had 
ne?oetrated  those  deeds,  who  had  just  been  suing  for  mercy, 
and  wwld  gladly  have  shown  their  claims  to  U,  by  re-actuig 
upon  the  Thames  the  bloody  scenes  of  the  river  Raisin      But 
how  did  they  avail  themselves  of  the  opportunity  which  now 
nrLnted'     Did  they  turn  the  tide  of  horrible  warfare  which 
hid  deluded  their  borders  in  the  blood  of  wounded  prisoners, 
and  of  S.8  age  and  infancy,  upon  the  heads  of  its  abettors 
Ko-  to  their  honour,  and  to  the  honour  of  their  country  be  tt 
snoken,  they  did  not!    The  moment  they  were  m  their  power 
a«  ii^fur  es  were  magnanimously  forgotten,  and  the  prisoner, 
re-eTv^d  the  most  honourable  and  delicate  treatment  from  he 
haids  of  those  whon»  they  had  stigmatised  «  savages,  the 
elolovment  of  whom  justified  the  use  .f  the  Indians. 

Of?h^  British  troopi  12  were  killed  and  22  wounded  m  this 
action   and  six  hundred  and  one  regulars  were  taken  prisoners. 
General  Proctor  escaped  by  the  fleetness  of  nis  Jo"^'' "'^«; 
eA  bv  40  dragoons  and  a  number  of  mounted  Indians,     ine 
Indians  sufferld  the  greatest  loss.     Thirty-three  were  found 
ie=d  on  the  Eround,  besides  numbers  who  were  killed  in  the 
repeat     On  the  day  of  the  action  six  pieces  of  brass  artillery 
we^e  taken?  and  two  twenty-four  po-Miders  the  day  before- 
Several  others  were  discovered  in  the  river,  which  were  ex- 
belted  to  bl  saved.     Of  the  brass  pieces,  three  were  trophies 
Sf  the  ref  bTutlonary  war,  that  were  taken  at  Saratoga  and  York, 
Md  surrendered  by  general  Hull.   The  number  of  small  arms 
camurrd  Sy  the  ALfricans,  or  destroyed  by  the  «"«<»/."•» 
have  exceeded  5000,  most  of  them  had  been  taken  by  th 
British  ^t  Detroit,  the  river  Raisin,  and  the  Miami.     The  loss 
of  the  Am^icans  were  seven  killed  and  twenty-two  wounded, 

fivp  nf  whom  have  since  died.  *  •      r.„ 

The  American  troops  certainly  deserved  great  praise  for 
theTr  con^ct  'n  this  action;  fot,  although  they  consideraWy 
outnumbered  the  British,  it  must  be  recolkpd  that  they  were 
!"i!!Tuu;,.  .nd  that  the  British  had  cjpn  a  position  that 
v-;»j   -"■;-'_-_,   ^..     fl^,^v«.  nnd  ««■■»  was  imposbiDic 


eff^Sylecured  ^^i^  flanks,  and  WM»  was  impos.iDiC 
Tor  the  Americans  to  turn,  or  to  present  a  ime 


ttended 


li^j^xtc 

than  that  of  the  enemy.  A«,w!lhertr  ami 

As  soon  as  Harrison  took  possession  of  Amhe|stbeig  anu 


IP 


IMlMA^'^i^^^''' ^ 


f 


H18T0UY  OF  THE   WAR. 


105 


Sandwich,  and  re-oc.cuincd  the  territory  fo  Michigan,  several 
of  the  Indian  tribes  submitted  and  brought  in  hostages  for 
their  good  behaviour,  and  while. he  was  in  pur^iit  of  the 
British,  five  more  tribes  followed  their  example,  and  brought 
hostages  to  Detroit.  Thev  were  received  by  general*  M' Ar- 
thur,"^vhom  Harrison  had  'left  in  the  command  of  that  place, 
and  it  was  agreed  that  hostilities  should  cease  for  the  present, 
on  condition  that  they  shoulu  "  take  hold  of  the  same  toma- 
hawk with  the  Americans,  and  strike  all  who  are,  or  mayn^Cj 
enemies  to  the  United  States,  whether  British  or  Indians." 

The  army  returned  to  Detroit  shortly  after  the  battle,  where 
they  embarked  on  board  the  fleet  for  Buffaloe,  in  order  to  join 
the  armyamder  general  Wilkinson. 

About  the  mid(ile  of  Scpteml)er  an  expedition  was   /ent 
from  St.  Louis,  on  the  Mississippi,  against  the  Indian  settle- 
ments  on  the  Peoria  lake,   on  the  river  Illinois.     It  consisted 
of  about  200  regulars  of  the  1st  regiment  of  United  States 
infantry,   with  a  considerable  body  of  rangers  and  mounted 
militia,   under   the    command  of  brigadier^ j^onerul    Howard. 
The  regulars  ascended   the   Illinois    in  boats;  the    mountyd 
troops  proceeded  up  the  Mississippi  in  two  divisions,  one  on 
each  side  of  the  river,  for  a   considerable  distance,  and  then 
crossed  the  country  to  the  Peoria  lake.     Tiic  ditferent  detach- 
ments had  not  proceeded  far  before  it  was  discovered  that  the 
enemy  were  descending  the  Illinois  to  ravage  the   frontier; 
and  a  skirmish  took  place  between  a  party  of  Indians  and  the 
detachment  on  the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi,  who,  however, 
soon  drove  them  before  them.    On  the  eveijng  of  the  28tl)  of 
September,  the  two  detachments  that  had  marched  up  the 
Mississippi,  and  thence  across  to  the  Illinois,  arrived  within  a 
few  miles  of  the  old  village,  and  three  men  were  sent  forward 
to  discover  whether  the  regulars  had  arrived.     During  the 
night  lieutenant-colonel  Nicholson,  who  commanded  the  regu- 
lars, descended  the  Illinois  to  the  encampment,  and  reported 
their  arrival  at  Pioria,  where  they  had  commenced  building  a 
fort.     He  had  been  attacked  by  the  Indians  the  day  previous, 
but  the'  enemy  were   soon   dispersed  by   a  well-directed  dis- 
charge of  musque'        with  the  aid  of  a  six  pounder  from  two 
unfinished  block-houses.  In  this  attack  none  of  the  men  were 
killed,  and  only  one  Wounded, — It  was  evident  that  the  assail- 
ants suffered  coimderably,  but  to  what  extent  ccuid.not  be 
ascertained.       ^^Wfc 

On  the  29th  tM[MHiuted  troops  arrived  at  Peoria,  and  as 
soon  as  pravisi^Bli^ould  be  drawn,  were  marci^"'^  •""  *^^" 


Illino 


^mheistberg  and 


head  of  the  lake,  which  was  the 
K 


106 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAU. 


Ik 


M 


direction  in  which  the  enemy  appeared  to  have  retired  ffoiti 
Peoria.  -The  villages,  bein|  found  deserted,  were  destroyed 
a^r  he  troops  rctu,-ned  to^Peoria,  where  they  rer«a.ned  till 
U  e  garria'on  w^  put  in  a  state  of  defence.  Two  detachment, 
"xrl  then  sent  in  putsuit  of  the  enemy,  one  of  which  ascended 
the  Illinois  above  the  mouth- of  the  Vermillion  river  to  the 
KaDidrand  within  17  miles  of  Chicago,  on  lake  Michigan. 
The  other  penetrated  the  country  northwardly  to  withm  about 
45  Wles  of  Rock  river.  The  latter  discovered  several  encamp- 
itiens'wl^ich  appeared  to  have  been  deserted  about  the  time 
of  the  army's  arrival  at  Peoria,  but  neither  of  them  were  able 

^"■J-r  m^unTell  t'r'o:pT«.^"ained  at  Peoria  from  the  2d  to  the 
Mth  of  October,    during   which   time   Ifcey   were   actively 
engaefdtogcther'with  tbf  United  States  Infantry,  in  erecting 
l"ort  Clarke,  which  stands  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Peona  lake, 
con  Dletely  commanding  the  Illinois  river.    This  fort  is  one 
of  the  It  ong"  St  in  the  western  country,  and  highly  important 
to  the  sM.  "''of  the  Indiana,  Illinois,  and  Missouri  territories. 
The  ntmited  troops  moved  from  Peoria  for  the  settlements 
on  the  15th,  leaving  the  regulars  to  garrison  the  fort.     1  hey 
mirsueU  generally  a  south  course  till  the  21st,  when  they  ar- 
Sat  Camp  Russell,   where  the  mounted  militia  were  dis- 
charged,  an??he  rangers  sent  across  the  -"ntry  to  Vincennes 
on  the  Wabash,  where  they  safely  arrived  shortly  after. 

Ifter  the  capture  of  B<irstler's  detachment,  the  army  at 

Tort  George"  ">ained  inactive,  with  the  exception  of  a  fe» 

rifl  ng  skh-mishe,  and  attacks  on  out-posts,  for  the  remainde 

of  the  summer.    Two  circumstances  are  supposed   to  have 

:Ls^  ^inactivity.    The  first  was  the  constant  rndispos.- 

tton  of  general  Dearborn,  which  P;f.^f"^«/,^'™ /jX  whe^ 
un«  active  Dart,  and  which  continued  till  the  15th  oljuly,  wneii 
he  rSd  orders  to  retire  from  the  command  of  th«  a™?' 
unt.7  his  health  should  be  re-established,  and  unti  f"«»>"^^; 
dcrs  the  command  devolving  on  brigadier-genera  Boyd.  But 
he  ;  incipaT^use  of  the  inactivity  of  this  army  is  presumed 
tK  be^en,  the  danger  and  indeed  impi-acticabdUy  of  under- 
takine  Ereat  military  movements  before  Chauncey  bad  on 
tained  the  complete  command  of  Lake  Ontario.  B«fo«  '^.s 
irachieved  the  army  would  always  be  liable  to  be  sui.-ouhd- 

XSZ\L  its  sup'plies  cut  ofi\r'M.1L"erio?Kt  of 
:.,L.«ful  Rven  with  a  force  considerably^erior  to  that  oi 
the'enem"y."  The  disaster  at  Detroit  ha««||ht  a  salutary  .=.- 

.•"ry  txe'iin'was  accordingly  made  by  ctmm.dore  Chaun- 


retired  horn 
re  destroyed, 
remained  till 
detachnvents 
lich  ascended 
,  river  to  the 
ke  Michigan. 
I  within  about 
eral  encamp- 
bout  the  time 
em  were  able 

the.  2d  to  the 
vere   actively 
y,  in  erecting 
e  Peoria  lake, 
lis  fort  is  one 
;hly  important 
iiri  territories. 
le  settlements, 
e  fort.     They 
when  they  ar- 
litia  were  dis- 
f  to  Vincennes 
tly  after. 
;,  the  army  at 
ption  of  a  few 
the  remainder 
posed   to  have 
tant  indisposi- 
m  from  taking 
1  of  July,  when 
d  of  the  army, 
ntil  further  or- 
eral  Boyd.  But 
ny  is  presumed 
ibility  of  under- 
luncey  had  ob- 
0.     Before  this 
to  be  sui»ouftd- 
lot  expect  to  be 
lerior  to  that  of 
jt  a  saiutary  ie5- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


J07 


im< 


haun- 


cey  for  the  attainment  o^this  important  object.     After  the 

L  ,rP  of  Fort  Geortre,  however,  commodore  sir  James  Yco, 

^^rcomm^nded  th^British  squadron,  having  f^J^ 

lerablv  to  his  force  both  of  vessels  and  sailors,  obliged  Chaun- 

;  to  remain  in  port  until  the  new  vessel  the  General  Pike 

nirl  he  trot  rcadv,  which  was  not  completed  until  the  middle 

r  uly    'bc  ore  I'e^cnter  upofi  the  tri^i  of  skill  which  now 

ensued  between  Chauncey  and  Yeo,  it  may  not  be  improper  to 

t«ke  a  view  of  his  previous  operations. 

'Commodore   Chauncey  arrived    at  SacWs  I  arbour   o^^ 
the  6th  of  October,  1812,  as  commander  of  the  United  Stales 
force    on  the  lakes,  at  which  time  the  only  American  vessel 
on  these  waters  wa*  the  brig  Oneida  of  18  guns,     lie  imme- 
diatelv  purchased  ^x  merchant  vessels,  schooners,  which  were 
fi  ted  oSt  as  gun  boats.  His  whole  squadron  mounted  40  guns 
of  different  calibres,  with  450  men,  including  marines.      I  he 
British  force  on  Lake  Ontario  consisted  at  this  time  of    he 
Thip  Royal  George,  of  26  guns  and  260  men,  ship  Eajl  Moi  a, 
18  guns  and  200  men,  and  the  schooners  Prince  Regent,  18 
Kuns  and  250  men,  Duke  of  Gloucester,  14  guns  and  80  m^n, 
Torento,  14  guns  and  80  men,  Go/ernor  Simcoe,  12  g^uns  and 
ro  men,  and  Seneca,  4  guns  and  40  men,  making  a  grand  total 
of  108  guns  and  890  men.  Chaunccy's  squadron,  especially  lie 
8choon!rs,  were  poor  vessels  and  dull  sailers,  but  In.  men 
were  much  superior,  a  great  part  ot  the   enemy  s  sailors  at 
this  time  being  Canadians.  .,    ,  .      ,      r^     -i 

On  the  8th  of  November  Chauncey  sailed  m  the  Oneida 
with  his  six  schooners,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  on  the 
same  day  fell  in  with  the  Royal  George,  which  he  chased  into 
the  bay  of  Quanti,  where  he  lost  sight  of  her  m  the  mght^^ 
Next  morning  he  again  discovered  her  m  Kingston  channel, 
and  immediately  gave  chase,  and  followed  her  into  the  harbour 
of  Kingston,  where  he  engaged  her  and  the  batteries  for  an 
hour  and  three  quarters.     Chauncey  had  made  up  l^^^  mind  to 
board  her,  notwithstanding  she  was  protected  by  the  batteries; 
but  the  wind  blowing  directly  in,  the  pilots  refused  to  take 
charge  of  the  vessels,  and  it  was  therefore  deemed  ^'^P^'^f  "^ 
to  mike  the  attempt  at  this  time.     He  accordmgly  hauled  off 
and  beat  up  under-a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy  to  Four-nule 
point,  where  the  squadron  anchored.  During  the  night  it  blew 
hea%,  with  squalls  from  the  westward,  and  there  being  every 
«nnZranr.e  of  a  Q^ale  of  wind,  the  pilot  became  alarmed,  and 
oTaunceV  thought  it  most  prudent  to  get  into  a  place  ol  i.i.,re 
safety,  and  therefore  reluctantly  deferred  renewing  the  attack* 
Vntil  a  more  favourable  opportunity. 


gUjIBfWfTW 


J08 


STOHY  OF  TH       .VAU. 


Pi 


it. 


The  signal  was  made  to  weigh  at  7  next  morning,  and  the 
squadron'  beat  out  of  a  very  narrow  channel,  under  a  heavy 
press  of  sail,  to  the  open  lake.  At  10  they  fell  in  with  the 
Ciovernor  Simcoe,  which  escaped  into  Kingston  harbour  by 
running  over  a  reef  of  rocks,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  uirec  o{ 
ihe  schooners,  during  which  all  her  peo^e  ran  below.  It  mo\v 
coming  on  to  blow  very  heavy,  Chaunceyborc  up  !  r  Sackctt's 
)Iarbour,  and  on  his  way  thither  captured  two  schooners  one 
of  which  was  burnt,  after  taking  out  her  sails  and  rigging. 

The  Oneida,  in  this  aflTair,  had  one  man  killed,  and  three 
slightly  wounded,  and  a  few  shot  through  her  sails.  The 
schooners  lost  no  men  by  the  enemy's  fire  and  received  but 
little  injury  in  their  hulls  and  sails.  One  of  their  guns,  how- 
ever, burst  early  in  the  action,  which  wounded  her  commander 
iiadly,  and  a  midshipman  and  three  men  slightly.  The  Royal 
(George  received  considerable  injury  in  her  hull  and  m  men, 
as  the  gun  vessels,  with  their  long  thirty-two  pounders,  were 
seen  to  strike  her  almost  every  shot,  and  it  was  observed  that 
she  was  reinforced  with  men  three  different  times  durmg  the 

action.  ^     ,   ■«,  •  s 

On  the  12th,  Chaunccy  learnt  that  the  Earl  Moira  was  off 
tlie  False  Ducks,  aad  immediately  put  off  in  a  snow  storm,  m 
the  hope  of  cutting  her  off  from  Kingston.  In  this  he  was 
disappointed,  as  she  escaped  into  the  harbour.  A  vessel  un- 
der jjer  convoy,  however,  was  c  purod,  in  which  was  captain 
litock,  brother  to  the  general.  Thanncey  row  blockaded 
Kingston  until  the  7th  of  DecenV'>ei,  when  he  returned  to 
S^ckett^i  Harbour,  being  no  longer  able  to  keep  the  lake  on 
account  of  the  ice.  During  the  winter  the  ship  Madison,  of 
24  guns,  was  launched  and  fitted  out. 

The  capture  of  York  and  Fort  George  have  already  been 
7-.V;ced  in  pages  78  and  80  of  this  volume.  After  these  events 
nothing  of  importance  occurred  until  the  end  of  July,  Chaun- 
cey  being  unable  to  keep  the  lake,  owing  to  several  new  ves- 
sels being  fitted  out  by  the  British,  and  the  arrival  of  sir  James 
Yeo,  with  a  large  body  of 'seamen,  to  take  command  ol  the 
British  squadron  on  Lake  Ontario.  It  may  be  proper  to  men- 
lioi.,  however,  that  the  brig  P-ike  of  Gloucester  was  captured 
Pt  York;  and  on  the  18th  of  June  lieutenant  Chauncey,an  the 
ivew  schooner  Lady  of  the  Lake,  captured  the  schooner  Lady 
Murray,  laden  with  provisions  and  ammunition,  and  jameen 
ofl'icers  and  privates,'  besides  the  seamen. 

About  the  middle  of  Julv,  the  General  Pike  being  ready  to 

r  sail,  which  brought  the  two  squadrons  nearly  to  a  state  ot 

equality,  Chaunccv  sailed  from  Sackctt's  Harbour,  and  stretcU- 


HISTORY  OF  THft  WATI. 


109 


inrr  over  for  the  enemy's  shore,  thence  siood  up  the  lake.     He 
Arrived  off  Niagara  on  the  27th.     Here  he  was  intovn.ed  by 
general   Boyd,  that  the  enemy  had  a  considerable  deposit  o 
^  ovisions  and  stores  at  Burlington  Bay,  which  he  <letermmed 
to  attempt  to  destroy,  and  for  that  purpose  embarked  a  snjall 
number  of  regulars^    At  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
28th,  the  fleet  proceeded  for  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  owmg 
to  litrht  winds  and  calms,  did  not  arrive  there  before  the  even- 
ino-  of  the  29th.     Two  parties  were  immediately  sent  on  shore, 
who  surprised  and  took  some  of  the  inhabitants,  from  whom 
it  was  learned,  that  the  enemy  had  received  considtrable  rein- 
forcements,  and  that  his  force  in  reirulars  was  trom  six  to  eight 
hundred  men.     The  troops,  marines,  and  a  few  sailors  were, 
however,    landed  next  morning,    but  on   reconnoitering  the 
enemy's  position,  he  was  found  posted  on  a  peninsula  o    very 
hitrh  around,  strongly  entrenched,  and  his  camp  defended  by 
about  eight  pieces  of   cannon.     In  this  situation  it  was  not 
thought  advisable  to  attack  him  with  a  torce  scarcely  half  his 
number,  and  without  artillery;  more  especial  y  as  they  were 
deficient  in  boats,  not  having  a  suflicient  number  to  cross  the 
bav  with  all  the  troops  at  the  same  time.     1  hey  accordingly 
rc-embarked  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon,  and  in  the  evening 
weighed  and  stood  for  York,  where  they  arrived  on  the  after- 
noon  of  the  Slst.     The  schooners  ran  into  the  inner  harbour, 
where  the  marines  and  troops  were  landed  vvithcut  opposition. 
Several  hundred  barrels  of  flour  and  provisions  were  found  iii 
the  public  storehouse,  together  with  five  pieces  of  cannon, 
eleven  boats,  and  a  quantity  of  shot,  shells,  and  other  stores, 
all  of  which   were  either  destroyed  or  brought  away      Next 
morning,  after  burning  the  barracks  and  public  storehouses, 
the  men  were  re-embarked,  and  the  fleet  sailed  for  Niagara, 
where  it  arrived  on  the  3d  of  August.     „       ,    .       ,,  , 

At  day  lii?ht  of  the  7ih,  the  enemy's  fleet  bemg  discovered 
to  windward,  distant  about  five  or  six  miles,  Chauncey  weighed 
and  stood  towards  them.  The  whole  of  this  and  the  next  day 
was  spent  by  the  two  squadrons  in  mancEUvering  to  gain  a 
favourable  position,  in  which  Chauncey  was  much  baffled  by 
the  dull  sailing  of  his  scliooners,  two  of  which  were  lost  m  a 
squall  in  the  night,  and  every  soul  on  board  perished  except 
sixteen.  In  the  evening  of  the  8th,  it  being ;vevy  squally, 
miW  the  appearance  of  its  continuing  so  dunng  the  ni^ght, 
Chauncey  ran  in  towards  Niagara,  and  anchored  outsice  Ox  t»e 

bar.  ^   ■  ... 

The  following  morning  (August  9th),  Chauncey  agam  weigh- 
ed and   stood  towards  the  enemy,  when  a  trial  of  nautical 


K  2 


JU.^ 


}10 


HISTORY  Of  THE  WAR. 


iiU 


skill  once  more  commenced  between  ^^e  two  commamk,^ 
each  entertaining  too  respectful  an  opmion  of  the  other  s  torte 
to  come  to  an  engagement  without  having  the  advantage  ot  the 
wind      In  the  course  of  the  day  the  wind  frequently  veered 
Xck  instantly  changed  the  characters  o   the  pt^suevsa,,d 
the  pursued.     At  length,  towards  midnight,  Yeo,  whose  ves- 
sels sailed  much  better  in  squadron  than  those  of  Chauncey, 
ucceeded  in  cutting  off  two  of  the  Amencan  lieavyjsad  ng 
schooners,  which,  added  to  Chauncey's  loss  m  the  squall,  gave 
Yeo  a  c;,n;rderabie  superiority  of  fo.-ce  -er  his  oppone^^^^^^^^ 
rhnimcev  therefore,  ordered  two  of  his  dullest  sailing  vessels 
fo  rrtnto  N  agaVa,  and  stood  with  the  rest  of  his  squadron 
to  ™"  '""'"' ^  Haibour,  where  he  arrived  en  the  13th. 
'"Hivtgvktuale"  his  squadron,  which  was  reinforced  with 
waving  ^^^^"'""r^  \hortlv  after  sailed  on  a  cruise,  and 

The  signal  was  instantly  made  to  weigh,  and  the  fleet  stoort 
,  J  ih/  river  after  him.  Yeo  immediately  maSe  all  sail  to 
Te  no  thwa-d,  and  Chauncey  pursued  for  four  days,  but  was 
the  "°'"\™f,°'  "i-sin™  with  him  by  the  heavy  sailing  of  his 
prevented  fiom  ^l^sin^  "^^  ^g.  ^.^^^^^  ^^^er,  Chaun- 

TevTarfavo^  d  w i'th  a  bree'ze,  while  Yeo  lav  becalmed  vintil 
cty  was  'a^°"™"  .  , .  .  ^  j|„.ee  quarters  of  a  mile  of  him, 
*"f  °PK^?n"i^ttb*e"e.  The  squadrons  now  had  a  running 
tu  for  hre  hours  and  a  half.lhen  the  British  got  out  ol 
eunshot  by  their  superior  sailing.  The  next  morning  Yeo 
r  r  AUer^tba^aving^^^^^^^^^^ 

Ziericr'pUots;  a^  S  to  be  so  full  of  shoals,  that  they 
w^re  not  w?n„g  to  take  in  the  fleet;  Chavincey,  therefore  sta- 
.1on!dhs  vessels  off  Duck  Island,  with  the  intention  of  block- 
adTng  the  „,  and  preventing  them  from  gettmg  out  upon 

'^Inl'e  running  fight  which  took  place  on  the  11th,  the  Brit- 

en«my  havmg  run  into  K-"W"' f^■^„^h,.  Nextmorn- 
etfs  Harbour,  «!'*"=  he_am,e^d  the^''^;^^^,^^  ^^„  ^,^  ,„,. 

'3X7t  neliTthe  F^Ue  ducks,  bm  took  «o  notice  of  him,  as 
i:^  :i!hed  hTm  to  follow  up  the  lake.  The  squadron  arrived 
in  Niagara  river  on  the  24t.h. 


On  the 
Beet  was 
of  the  Ls 
with  the 
squadror 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


ill 


""'/:  immcXeW  tthedSr,  but,  owing  to  a  strong 
sqiiadion  immediately  wcig  ^.,|  ^^^  evenmg 

'■ntr^^h^'^C^^vvlit  to  th^e  -treme  darkness  of  the  night  a 
of  the  2nh.     uwipg  i"    ,,„.^r„trd    and  did  not  lom  till  next 

P"^  "' '  at  eTXt'Thef  hr^eramke,  Madiso'n,  and  Sy.ph 

morning  at  eight,  wnen  uic  York,  and 

^^^"  ra'r^u:cr;i:.rt  e^ei™tet  ^  way  in  York 

b::vthe"quad::nha'ped  their  course  for  them,  and  prepared 

for  action.  .  rhauncev  intended  to  engage  him  in 

Yeo,  !?<='•«"'"  V»nrt  f,«od  out  of  the  bay  with  the  wind  at 
"?°  ctrjncettmeVtre' ir  andVan  do'wn  for  his  centre^ 
S^h^rhTa^Voached  within  about^^^^^^^^^^^ 

„ade  all  sail  to  the  ^°»'''7;f  ,,,f '.^^fack  wUh  him,  edg- 
wore  in  succession,  and  stood  on  the  same  ^  | 

ing  down  gradually  i"<>"^f.V°Vta;,actioror  suffer  his  two 
yIo,  finding  ho  "^"^' ^^'^'■J^fd  h,\'^rdron  in  succession, 

r-  ;ir'rthe%"n  '^hoised'ht  colours,  and  commenced  a 
beginning  at  the  ^a"'  ""  .  ^^^  purpose  of  covering  his 
well-dir.cted  fire  at  t  e  P^ke   fo'-^he  P    P ^„^  ^,  ^e  passed  to 

rear,  ana  ^  "^''^'^"S/';:,  :f^^^^^^  in^tention,  and  therefore, 
leeward.    <;hauncey  P^J"'  j^^^j      ^^ip,  passed  the  cen- 

as  soon  as  the  Wolte,  ''^f^"^"'  ■  sqtiadron,  he  bore  up  in 
tre,  and  got  abeam  of  tl^Arn"'^^"!''^  centre  of  the  British 
succession,  P^^^/,      e'^f  ctunc^yTnot  only  covered 

r  .Tbu^  rew  threnemy  into  confusion,  and  caused  him 
his  rear,  but  thi  cw  ine  c  ,/,  ^  |,ad  now,  however,  clos- 
immediately  to  bear  avvay.    •;^auncey  ^a       ^  ^^^^_ 

ed  so  near  as  to  make  his  S""» '° J^^^J'^^^/^,-,;  ^d  of  the 
,y  minutes  the  mam  »"*  mnlmmeTatelv  putTefore  the  wind, 
Wolfe  were  shot  away.    7^«°  ^^"^"'Al7je„  made  the  signal 

rM^'fltt  to  mTe'aU  "a  u' bm  'he  eremfby  keeping  lead 
for  the  fleet  o  make  alis^  all  the  sail  upon  one  mast,  and 
before  the  winfl,  wn'^n  di  >  h  ^     •        topn>ast, 

prevented  his  feehng  the  loss  ot  "'»■"»'",        u,dron      The 

'was  enabled  *?  °«^^\\  "^'le^o'S  during  the  whole 
cha'se  was  corAinuedtm  near  three  ocock^ 

of  which  the  Pike,  with  l^^/|^P '" '""^h^ie  of  his  Le.  Cap- 
.hot  of  the  enemy,  ^d^sustamedthe^w^^^^  ^^^^  .^  ^^^  ^^J._ 

daru^'sed'everrcVeJu^n  to  dose  with  th«  enemy;  but  the  Ma- 


I 


12 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


^H. 


u 


dison  having  a  heavy  schooner  in  tow,  and  the  Oneida  sailing 
very  dull  before  the  wind,  prevented  those  officers  from  clos- 
ing near  enough  to  do  any  execution  with  their  carronades.— 
The  Governor  Tompkins  kept  in  her  station,  until  her  fore- 
mast was  sc  badly  wounded  as  to  oblige  her  to  shorten  sail. 

Commodore  Chauncey  now  reluctantly  relinquished  the  pur- 
suit.     The  reasons  which  induced  this  determination  are  thus 
stated  in  his  letter  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy:  "  At  the  time 
I  gave  up  the  chase,  the  ship  was  making  so  much  water,  that 
it  required  all  our  pumps  to  keep  her  free  (owing  to  our  re- 
ceiving  several  shot  so  much  below  the  water  edge,  that  we 
could  not  plug  the  holes  from  the  outside);  the   Governor 
Tompkins  with  her  fore-mast  gone;  and  the  squadron  within 
about  six  miles  of  the  head  of  the  lake,  it  blowing  a  gale  of 
wind  from  east,  and  increasing,  with  a  heavy  sea  on,  and  every 
appearance  of  the  equinox.     I  considered  that  if  I  chased  the 
enemy  to  his  anchorage  at  the  head  of  the  lake,  I  should  be 
obliged  to  anchoi  also;  and  although  we  might  succeed  in  driv- 
ing him  on  shore,  the  probability  was,  that  we  should  go  on 
shore  also — he  amongst  his  friends,  we  amongst  our  enemies; 
and  after  th«   gale  abated,  if  he  could  succeed  in  getting  oft' 
one  or  two  vessels  out  of  the  two  fleets,  it  would  gi\  e  him  as 
completely  the  command  of  the  lake  as  if  he  had  twenty  ves- 
sels.    Moreover  he  was   covered  at  his  anchorage  by  a  part 
of  his  army,  and  several  small  batteries  thrown  up  for  the  pur- 
pose.    Therefore,  if  we  could  have  rode  out  the  gale,  we 
should  have  been  cut  up  by  their  shot  from  the  shore;  under 
all  these  circumstances,  and  taking  into  view  the  consequences 
resulting  from  the  loss  of  our  superiority  on  the  lakes  at  this 
time,  I  without  hesitation  relinquished  the  opportunity  then 
presenting  itself  of  acquiring  individual  reputation  at  the  ex- 
pense of  my  country." 

The  loss  sustained  by  the  Pike,  the  commodore's  ship,  was 
considerable,  owing  to  her  being  so  long  exposed  to  the  fire 
of  the  whole  of  the  enemy's  fleet;  but  her  most  serious  loss 
was  occasioned  by  the  bursting  of  one  of  her  guns,  which  kill- 
ed and  wound«d  twenty-two  men,  and  tore  up  the  top-gallant 
fore-castle,  which  rendered  the  gun  upon  that  deck  useless. — 
Four  other  guns  were  cracked  in  the  muzzle,  which  rendered 
their  use  extremely  doubtful.  Her  main-top-gallant  mast  was 
shot  away  in  the  'early  part  of  the  action,  and  the  bow-sprit, 
fore  and  main-mast  wounded,  rigging  and  sails  much  cut  up, 

\f  which  were  be- 
killed   and 


Vk  ^  i« 


anu  a  nuitiucr 

tween   wind   and   water,   and    twenty-seven   men 

wounded,  including  those  by  the  bursting  of  the  gun      The 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAU. 


113 


s  ship,  was 
I  to  the  fire 
ierious  loss 
which  kill- 
top-gallant 
:  viseless. — 
:h  rendered 
It  mast  was 
i  bow-sprit, 
uch  cut  up, 
'.h  were  be- 
killed  and 
gun      The 


I  board. 
Oneida 


Madison  received  a  few  shot,  but  no  person  was  hurt  on^ 
■Ihe  Governor  Tompkins  lost  her  fore-mast,  and  the  (. 
i.jfl  her  main-top-mast  badly  wounded. 

Durin?  the  cbase,  one  or  two  of  the  enemy's  small  vessels 
„  ere  completely  within  Chauncey's  power,  but  m  the  eager- 
"^ss  of  fc  P«""i»  "f  'he  larger,  he  passed  them  unnouced,  by 
which  means  they  finally  escaped.  ,  F„,.t  Oenrcre 

Meanwhile  general  Wilkinson  had  arrived  a  Fort  George, 
in  mder  to  taki  the  con;mand  of  the  army.     About  the  same 

„e  the  secretarv  of  war  arrived  at  Sackelfs  Harbour,  m  or- 
r  to  be  more  conveniently  situated  for  supermtendmg  mihta- 

'-'iCwinrLlill  continuing  unfavourable  for  an  attack  on  the 
Rvitish  sauadron  at  the  head  of  the  lakej  Chauncey  ran  off  Nia- 
«  a  ft.  C  purpose  of  cor.  municating  with  Wilkinson  to  a- 
certain  when  he  meant  to  move  with  the  army  to  Sackett  s  Hal  - 
tour      U  was  the  general's  opinion,  that  the  public  service 
would  be  best  proiLted  by  hi^  watching  the.  enemy's  squad- 
mn  or  if  Dossible,  preventing  its  return  to  Kmgston,  while  he 
ZUi'iuh  the  aVmy  down^he  '^^e-     Chauncey,  therefore 
Lvinir  taken  part  of  the  troops  on  board  his  squadron,  tire  re- 
Ser  pioceeding  in  boats  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  imraeoiate- 
r,  roceerd  in  qulst  of  the  enemy.     The  following  morning, 
Oc  ober  2d,  he  discovered  the  British  squadron  standmg  to- 
wa  ds  him,  and  made  all  sail  in  chase  ;  but  as  soon  as  the  flee  s 
;;;oach"d  so  near  as  plainly  to  discern  each  other,  Yeo  P^ 
about,  and  stood  towards  the  head  of  '^e  lake.     The  chase  c„„ 
tinned  until  the  4th,  little  progress  bemg  m*^*.  ^g»  "^*  Z, 
.urrent,  from  the  lightness  or  variableness  f 'he  wind,  the 
B  itislr  however,  evidently  gaining  ground  of  the  American 
"madron    The  morning  of  the  4th  proving  hazy,  "fhing  could 
;rseenof  the  enemy,  afd  about  noon  it  fell  -ta,  when  ^h«un- 
,ev  ordered  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  to  sweep  up  to  BuiUngton 
bay,  which  was  not  fir  distant,  to  ascertain  whether  or  not  the 
Son  was  there.     In  the  evening  she  returned  with  info. - 
mation  that  the  fleet  was  gone,  the.r  bemg  noUiing  m  the  bay 

"It'^l'n'w^evident  tWt  Yeo,  availing  himself  of  the  dark- 
Tf  ,i»  nieredine  nicht,  had  either  run  lor  Kingston,  or 
rrtieVe  forSrlo^e  of  intercepting  the  flotilla  with 
,Ue  army.  Chauncey,  therefore,  immediately  -"^f  »"  J^'J' ^™ 
shaped  his  course  for  the  Ducks,  with  a  view  ol  '"'«  eepti  ^ 
hinlor  his  prizes,  if  heshould  lZ^^,^:^\7\J":n^X 
ru^draT'»t^Tn;:.Ki  auhree  in  theaftcrnoonof  the  5th, 


M: 


114 


HISTOKY  OF  THE  WAR. 


discovered  seven  sail  near  the  False  Ducks,  to  which,  presum- 
ing  they  were  the  enemy's  fleet,  they  instantly  gave  chase.    In 
about  an  hour,  however,  they  were  discovered  to  be  sloops  and 
schooners,  and  were  perceived  to  be  separating  on  different 
tacks,  on  which  the  Sylph  and  the  Lady  of  the  Lake  were  dis- 
patched  after  one  part,  and  Chauncey  in  the  Pike  pursued  the 
others.     About  five  o'clock  the  enemy,  finding  that  the   Pike 
was  fast  gaining  on  him,  took  the  people  out  of  one  of  his  gun 
vessels  which  sailed  worse  than  the  rest,  and  :.et  her  on  fire. 
This,  however,  availed  them  but  little,  for,  at  sun-down,  three 
of  their  vessels  were  forced  to  strike  to  the  Pike,  and  soon  af- 
ter the  Sylph  captured  another.     A  fifth  ran  into  the  Ducks, 
but  the  Sylyh,  which  was  left  to  watch  her,  took  possession  of 
her  early  next  morning.     A  small  schooner  was  the  only  -ves- 
sel that  escaped,  owing  to  the  darkness  of  the  night. 

The  captured  vessels  were  found  to  be  gun-vessels,  with 
troops  from  the  head  of  the  lake,  but  last  from  York,  bound  to 
Kingston.  Two  of  them  were  the  Julia  and  Growler,  which 
Chauncey  had  lost  in  the  action  of  the  9th  of  August.  The 
prisoners  taken  amounted  to  nearly  300,  principally  belonging 
to  the  De  Wattenlle,  a  German  regiment.  From  them  it  was 
learnt  that  the  British  fleet,  in  the  action  of  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, at  the  head  of  the  lake,  was  very  much  cut  up  in  their 
hulls  and  spars,  and  had  a  great  many  killed  and  wounded, 
particularly  on  board  of  the  Wolfe,  and  Royal  George. 

In  addition  to  the  army  in  Ohio,  and  that  on  the  Niagara 
frontier,  a  considerable  body  of  troops  was  collected  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1812,  upon  lake  Champlain,  a  number  of  vessels  also 
were  built  to  gain  the  command  of  those  waters.     In  the  cam- 
paign of  that  year,  however,  no  important  movement  was  made 
in  this  quarter.    Towards  the  end  of  May,  1813,  several  of  the 
British  gun-boats  having  crossed  the  lines,  for  the  purpose  of 
capturing  the  craft  upon  the  lake,  two  of  the  American  armed 
sloops,  the  Eagle  and  Growler,  sailed  from  Plattsburg  on  the 
2d  of  June  for  their  protection.     They  arrived  within  about  a 
mile  of  the  lines  about  dark,  where  they  cast  anchor  for  the 
night.     Next  morning,  about  day-break,  they  discovered  three 
British  gun-boats,  to  which  they  gave  chase,  but  the  wind  be- 
ing south,  they  unfortunately  ran  so  far  into  the  naitow  chan- 
nel that  they  found  it  difiicult  to  return,  and  the  Eagle,  not  be- 
ing sufliciently  strong  for  her  weight  of  metal,  became  unman- 
ageable, and  at  last  went  down;  the  watc,  however,  being  shoal, 
the  crew  were  saveu.     i  ne  vjirowtci",  uuirviinug^  ii*  ausiiu»«s  ii~s 
companion,  continued  to  fight  until  after  the  Eagle  sunk,  when 
iihe  was  compelled  to  strike  to  superior  force,     The  enemy 


til  A 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


115 


h.d  five  cun-boats  in  the  action,  besides  a  considerable  force 
in  musquetry  on  both  sides  of  the  channel,  which  was  so  Bar- 
Im  place  the  sloops  within  their  reach  from  b>oth  shores. 
T  official  account  of  this  affair  has  not  been  published,  but  it 
is  stated,  on  the  authority  of  the  enemy,  that  they  had  two  kiM- 
ed  the  Americans  only  one,  but  a  considerable  number  of^e 
[alter  were  wounded.     The  British  afterwards  succeeded  m 

''Thfl'os^sorfhe* sloops  giving  the  British  the  superiority  on 
the  lake,  on  the  30th  of  July  a  considerable  force  crossed  the 
•mes  in  forty-four  barges,  protected  by  the  Growler  and  Eagle, 
three  row-gallies,  and  a  gun-boat,  under  the  command  of  colo- 
nel M^'ray^  The  following  day  they  appeared  off  Plattsburg, 
and  Vflae  of  truce  was  sent  into  the  town  to  demand  its  surren- 
der,  with  the  assurance,  that  if  no  resistance  was  made,  private 
nrooerty  should  be  respected.  There  bemg  no  troops  m  the 
p  ace,  of  course  there  was  no  resistance,  and  the  enemy  lande^d 
ami  burnt  the  public  bmldings,  consisting  of  a  blockhouse, 
barracks,  arsenal,  Sec.  when  they  again  ^"^barked. 

On  the  2d  of  August  the  enemy  appeared  off  Bur.ington,  on 
the  other  side  of  the  lake,  where  the  American  army  was  sta- 
tioned  under  general  Hampton,  and  opened  their  fire  from  two 
Zps  and  a  galley,  which  was  returned  from  a  battery  m  front 
of  ^he  town,  The  fire  from  which  soon  compelled  them  to  make 
off  Several  gun-boats  and  sloops  lay  under  the  battery,  but 
were  unable  to  pursue  the  enemy,  having  suffered  severely  m 

a  eale  a  few  days  previous.  j  ..     i  i  „ 

In  the  month  of  October,  Hampton's  army  crossed  the  lake, 
and  proceed,  d  towards  the  Canada  lines,  which  they  crossed 
about  the  20th  or  21st.   The  army  moved  m  two  divisions,  one 
on  each  side  of  the  Chateaugay  river,  and  on  two  differer  ^  dap 
drove  in  the  British  pickets,  one  of  which  they  succeeued    n 
capturing.     Every  precaution  had  been  taken  by  the  enemy  to 
ntercept  the  progress  of  the  army.  The  roads  were  filled  with 
esrwhich  the/had  previously  felled  in  every  direction;  the 
bridges  were  destroyed,  and  the  houses  burnt  or  pulled  down. 
Notwithstanding  these  impediments,  however,  they  contmued 
1^^;  to  advance  till  the  26th,  when  the  advanced  guard  was 
attacked  on  both  sides  of  the  river  by  a  body  of  regulars,  vol- 
tigeurs  and  Indians,  posted  in  strong  positions  m  a  wood,  flank- 
ed by  the  river  and  impassible  swamps.  The  attack  was  seve- 
altfmes  renewed  and\he  enemy  always  driven  behind  their 
wmis.     On  the  27th  one  of  the  divisions  forded  the  river,  and 
.»,«  «,u^ie  arrr^v  returned  within  the  American  hnes  to  tour 
Corners.     The  British  claimed  great  merit  from  the  splcnam 


116 


HlSTOllY  OF  THE  WAH. 


ik-ii . 


^1.  •'  ■ 


victory,  as  they  c  all  it,  which  they  assert  was  achieved  by  a 
force  of  only  300  men,  against  Hampton's  whole  army,  which 
consisted  of  3000  or  3500.  From  their  own  statement,  how. 
ever,  it  would  appear  that  their  force  was  much  larger  than 
they  represent  it.     They  state  it  to  have  consisted  ot— 

«  Captains  Levesque  and  Debartzch,  with  their  flank  com. 
panics  of  the  5th  battalion  incorporated  militia,  together  with 
about  200  of  the  Beauharnois  division." 

«  Lieutenant-colonel  De  Salaberry,  with  his  yoltigeurs,  and 
captam  Fereruson's  light  company  of  the  Canadian  regiment. 
Besides  these,  are  mentioned,  in  the  course  of  the  action- 
«  A  lar^e  body  of  Indians  under  captain  Lamothe. 
«  Lieutenant-colonel  M'Donnell,  of  the  Glengary  light  in- 
fantry, with  a  part  of  his  light  brigade." 

These  forces  do  not  include  the  reinforcements  which  are 
stated  to  have  arrived  the  following  day.  And  yet  we  are 
c-ravcly  told,  that,  "  though  it  may  appear  mcredible,^the  whole 
force  en^at^ed  on  our  side  did  not  exceed  300  men.  » 

But  even  allowing  their  forces  to  be  as  small  as  here  repre- 
Nsented,  it  by  no  means  follows,  cither  that  a  victory  was  gamed, 
or  that  Hampton's  measures  were  baffled.    It  does  not  appear 
that  it  was  the  intention  of  the  American  general  to  push  on  by 
this  route  to  Montreal,  for  the  reduction  ot  which  his  small 
force  was  utterly  incompetent,  independent  of  the  natural  im- 
pediments which  this  part  of  the  country  presented  to  an  in- 
vading army.     There  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  uideed,  that  this 
movement  was  merely  intended  as  a  demonstration,  to  divert 
and  distract  the  attention  of  the  enemy  from  the  movenients 
on  the  St.  Lawrence,  and  this  end  being  completely  attamecl, 
it  was  nut  the  general's  intention  to  risk  the  loss  ot  any  part, 
however  small,  of  his  army,  by  an  attempt  to  force  a  position 
so  stroma  as  the  British  represent  this  to  have  been. 

General  Wilkuison  having  transported  his  army  m  satety 
from  Fort  George  to  Sackett's  Harbour,  in  the  beginnmg  ot 
October,  in  a  lew  days  they  were  again  moved  to  Grenadier 
Island,  with  the  intention  of  immediately  proceedmg  down  the 
St.  Lawrence  against  Montreal.  Considerable  delay,  hbwever, 
took  place;  owing  to  the  uncommon  severity  of  the  weather, 
and  it  was  not  until  the  3d  of  November  that  he  was  enabled  to 
niove.     On  the  evening  of  the  6th  he  reached  Ogdensburg, 


*  Th- 


-.    ..^^  *^j»t*  di^^-f   Jt/*^fi 


alluded  to  is  not  the  official  account.  It 
is  a  de'tlued  account,  afifiarcntty  written  by  an  officer  who  was 
fire  sent  at  the  affair. 


HtblOUY    Of  TH*:   WAU. 


117 


lere  repre- 
vas  gained, 
not  appear 
push  on  by 
1  his  small 
natural  im- 
jd  to  an  in- 
1,  that  this 
n,  to  divert 
movements 
ly  attained, 
i  any  part, 
3  a  position 
n. 

ly  in  safety 
e  ginning  of 
3  Grenadier 
ig  down  the 
y,  hbwever, 
he  weather, 
s  enabled  to 
)gdensburg, 


I  account.  It 
cer  tvho  ivas 


, hence  he  wrote  to  general  Hampton  at  Four  comers  (^urc 
e  had  established  his  head-quarters  a  ter  his  return  trom  Ca- 
nadaO  ordering  him  to  form  a    unction  with,  him  on  the  St. 
Lawrence,  ai/ rex oi^jm ending  St.  Regis  as  the  most  suitable 
nlacerwhere  he  expc.:ted  to  be  on  the  9th.     -On  the  subject 
•rprovTsions,"  continues  Wilkinson,  «  I  ^vish     could  give  a 
favourable  inlormation;  our  whole  stock  of  bread  may  be  com- 
puted  at  about  fifteen  days,  and  our  meat  at  twenty.    On  speak- 
hiL  on  this  subject  to  the  secretary  of  war,  he  informed  me  am- 
2  magazines  were  laid  up  on  lake  Champlain,  and  therefore 
I  must  request  of  you  to  order  forward  two  or  three  month  s 
upply  by  the  safest  route,  in  a  direction  to  the  proposed  scene 
of  action.   I  have  submitted  the  state  of  provisions  to  my  gene- 
ral officers,  who  unanimously  agree  that  it  should  not  prevent 
the  progress  of  the  expeditior;  and  they  also  agree  m  opmion, 
if  you  arc  not  in  force  to  face  the  enemy,  you  should  meet  us 
at  St.'  Ree-is  or  its  vicinity.''  •.      •  i      r 

A  short  distance  above  Ogdensburg,  on  the  opposite  si.le  of 
the  St.  Lawrence,  stands  Prescot,  a  fortified  post  commandint,^ 
the  river.  The  lateness  of  the  season  not  admitting  of  delay, 
Wilkinson  determined  to  pass  it  in  the  night,  m  place  ot  stop- 
pine  to  reduce  it.  This  was  eficctcd  on  the  mght  of  the  6th, 
without  other  loss  thau  two  privates  killed  and  three  wounded. 
In  the  course  of  the  8th  the  cavalry  was  crossed  rom  the 
American  to  the  Canada  shore,  and  a  detachment  ot  the  intan. 
try  was  landed,  to  prevent  the  enemy,  who  had  previously  lin- 
ed the  shore  with  musquetry,  from  harrasshig  the  boats  m  their 
passage  down  the  river.  A  considerable  body  of  the  enemy 
trom  Kingston  also,  in  concert  with  a  heavy  galley  and  a  few 
gun-boats,  hung  on  the  rear  of  the  Americans,  aitd  consider- 
ubly  retarded  their  progress. 

On  the  morning  of  the  10th,  general  Brown  advanced  down 
the  river,  for  the  purpose  of  clearing  its  b^ks,  as  a  rapid,  eight 
miles  long,  was  expected  to  be  passed  in  the  course  ot  the  dav , 
in  the  passage  pf  which,  without  this  precaution,  the  army 
would  be  much  exposed.  About  noon,  the  army  was  apprized 
by  the  report  of  artillery,  that  Brown  was  engaged  some  dis- 
tance  below,  and  about  the  same  time  the  enemy  were  obsei  v- 
cd  in  their  rear.  Their  galley  and  gun-boats  having  approach- 
cd  the  flotilla,  and  openci  their  fire,  Wilkmson  ordered  a  bat- 
tery of  eighteen  pounders  to  be  planted,  the  shot  from  which 
soon  compelled  the  vessels  of  the  enemy  to  retire,  together  with 
^^\^  *,v^.-^r..o.  after  fiome  firiuir  between  the  advanced  parlies. 

The  day  was  now  so  far  sp^ent,  that  the  pilotstUd  not  dare  td 
enter  the  rapid,  and  therefore  the  flotilla  fell  down  about  l^^o 


113 


HloTOUY  OF  THK  WAR. 


l^ 


*•  :!| 


uikk  and  came  to  for  the  night.     Early  next  morning  every 
thinrwas  ready  to  move,  but  it  was  still  deemed  imprudent  to 
.  commit  tlie  flotiUa  to  the  rapid  until  the  result  of  gen.  Brown  s 
*  affair  should  be  ascertained.    At  half  pa^  10,  an  officer  arrived 
with  information  that  Brown  had  forceS  the  enemy  to  retire, 
and  that  he  would  reach  the  foot  of  the  rapid  early  m  the  day. 
Orders  were  now  given  for  the  flotilla  to  sail;  bot  at  this  mo- 
ment  the  enemy's  gun-boats  appeared  and  b^gan  to  fire,  and  in- 
formation  was  received  from  general  Boyd,  that  the  enemy  a 
troops  were  advancing  in  column,  on  which  Wilkinson  sent  him 
orders  to  attack  them.    This  report  was  soon  contradicted;  but 
their  Kun-boats  conUnued  to  annoy  the  flotilla,  and  such  a  va- 
riety of  reports  of  the  movements  and  counter-movements  ot 
the  troops  on  shore  was  brought  to  Wilkinson,  as  convinced 
him  of  their  determination  to  hazard  an  attack,  when  it  could  be 
done  to  advantage.     He  therefore  resolved  to  anticipate  them; 
and  directions  were  accordingly  sent  to  general  Boyd  to.  throw 
the  detachments  under  his  command  into  three  columns,  to 
march  upon  the  enemy,  outflank  them  if  possible,  and  take  their 
artillery!     Tlie  force  under  Bpyd  consisted  of  detachments 
from  the  first,  third,  and  fourth  brigades,  which  were  formed 
agreeably  to  orders;   and  placed  respectively  under  colonel 
Coles,  general  Covington,  and  general  Swartwout.     A  report 
wj^s  nevv  brought  to  Boyd  from  the  rear  guard,  that  a  body  o 
about  200  British  and  Indians  had  advanced  mto  the  woods  that 
skirted  his  rear.    General  Swartwout,  with  the  fourth  brigade, 
was  immediately  ordered  to  dislodge  them;  general  Covington, 
with  t:i»  -^lird  brigade,  being  at  the  same  time  directed  to  be 
withi,.  supporting  distance.     General  Swartwout^ashed  into 
the  woods,  and  with  the  2  st  infantry  (a  part  of  his  brigade,) 
after  a  shovt  skirmish,  drove  them  back  to  the  position  of  their 
main  body.     Here  he  was  joined  by  General  Covmgton.    The 
enemy  had  iudiciouiiy  chosen  his  ground  among  the  deep  ra- 
vines  which  every  where  intersected  the  extensive  plain,  and 
dischargtd  a  heavy  and  galling  fire  upon  the  advanced  columns 
of  the  Americans.   No  opposition  or  obstaole,  however,  check- 
ed their  ardour.     The  enemy  retired  for  more  than  a  mile  be- 
fore  their  rcsoime  and  repeated  charges.     D"""^^^^^i«  ^.^'^J' 
The  cUtachmem  of  the  first  brigade  under  colonel  Coles,  whose 
ir^catcr  distance  from  the  scene  of  action  retarded  its  arrival, 
nujidly  entered  the   field.     Being  directed  to  attack  the  ene- 
^S    /.r,  a:...i,   ►Mo  ^,.T.».mf^nt  was  nromDtlv  and  bravely  exe- 
•^td,  amicf  a.f]Ro^^er  of  miisquetry  ^md  sharpnel  shells.     1  he 
i,cht  now  b\came  moi-e  stationary,  until  the  brigade  first  en- 
imaged,  having  txpciulcd  all  their  amiuumtion,  were  directed 


HISTORY  OF  THE  "WAR. 


119 


route  they  had  to  taKe,  were  im  ^^j  ^^. 

rival),  did  not  read,  the  S™""^  """' ^  'I^^^^n  they  were  ar- 
munition,  had  already  ^eg""  t°f '™^^         When  the  artil- 

rSoaUaf\vhkh'movon,ent  *'as  executed  in  good  order,  and 

^'rrlm^tantTc^TnThrJction,  which  too.  place  >u 

^he^Sbt^ood  of  WiUia.^^^^^^^^ 

detachments  taken  from  the  "°»'»' «'*"??..  ^  ^  ^  ^^s  sup- 
accurac,  what  was  the  nmnber  on  the^teld    bu^ 

polled  to  be  ''bout  1600  or  1700  men^ine  ^.^  ^ 

SsmUent  the  -U«a  and  Ind^ns  -^^^^^^^ 
rUided      The    Americans   had   102  kiiieq,  anu  n^uuh 

\^on^*  the  latter  general  Covington  mortally.     The  British 
among  the   latter  S*^?t  ^  wounded,  and  12  missing.— 

state  their  ^<^«^,^5^\J^;Vt.U^^^^^^^^^^^  the  British,  be  . 

Both  parties  claim  ^I'J^V^^^^  because  the  Ame- 

cause  they  ^^^P^^^'^^^.^Ct^e  eround  ?S  Amei^        because 

[JSrobtea  w  "f%^  a^^^^^^^^^^^  b-^-S  ^-^  i^^  ^"^"^^' 

their  object  was  i""y  '     .    ^^rotrress  down  the  river— 

r„'"Fo^'''GTor.':: tvin^g  with  a  few  short  intervals  of  conva- 
!ThrASrhar.^::-S-their  position  on  the  banKs 


ifi 


!  J' 


120 


HISTORY    or    THE  WAR. 


!(: 


of  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  infantry,  being  much  fatigued,  were 
re-embarked,  and  proceeded  down  the  river,  without  further 
annoyance  from  the  enemy  v  their  gun-boats,  while  the  dra- 
.goons  with  five  pieces  of  light  artillery,  marched  down  the 
Canada  shore  without  molestation.  The  next  morning  the 
flotilla  passed  safely  down  the  rapitU,  and  joined  general  Brown 
at  Barnhart's  netir  Cornwall,  where  he  had  been  instructed  lo 
take  post  and  wait  their  arrival. 

At  Barnhart*s,  Wilkinson  confidently  expected  to  have  heai'd 
of  Hampton's  arrival  on  the  opposite  shore,  but  immediately 
on  his  halting,  colonel  Atkinson  waited  on  him  with  a  letter 
from  that  officer,  in  which,  to  the  surprise  and  mortification  of 
WilkinsoR,  Hampton  declined  the  junction,  and  informed  him 
that  he  was  marching  towards  lake  Champkin,  by  way  of  co- 
operating in  the  proposed  attack  on  Monti-eal.    The  reason  as- 
signed by  Hampton  for  this  measure,,  was  the  smallness  of 
Wilkinson's  stock  of  provisions,  and  the  impossibility,  from 
4he  difficulty  of  trans^-ortatipn  at  this  season,  of  his  brmging 
more  tlian  each  man  could  have  carried  on  his  back.    "  When 
I  reflected,"  says  Hampton,    '  that  in  throwing  myself  upon 
your  scanty  means,  I  should  be  weakening  you  in  your  most 
vulnerable  point,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  adopt  the  opinion,  after 
consulting  the  general  and  principal  oflicers,  that  by  throwing 
myself  back  on  my  main  depot,  when  all  the  means  of  trans- 
portation had  gone,  and  falling  upon  the  enemy's  flank,  and 
straining  every  effort  to  open  a  communication  from  Platts- 
l>urg  to  Coghnawaga,  or  any  other  point  you  may  indicate  on 
the  St.  Lawrence,  I  should  more  effectually  contribute  U?  your 
,8uccess,  than  by  the  junction  at  St.  R^gis.     The  way  is  in  ma- 
uy  places  blockaded  and  abated,  i»nd  the  road  impracticable 
for  wheel  carriages  during  winter— but  by  the  employmenfof 
pack  horses,  if  I  am  not  overpoweiflf,  I  hope  to  be  able  to 
jprcvent  your  starving.     I  have  as^eiftained  and  witnessed  that 
fhe  plan  of  the  eneS^is  to  burn  and  consume  every  thing  in 
•:ur  advance.     My  troops  and  other  moans  will  be  described  to 
you  by  colonel  Atkinson.     Besides  the  rawness  and  sickness, 
they  ha  e  endured  fatigues  equal  to  a  winter  campaign,  in  the 
late  snows  and  bad  weather,  and  are  sadly  dispirited  and  fallen 
ofi";  but  upon  this  subject  I  must  refer  you  to  colonel  Atkinson. 
AVith  these  means— what  can  be  accomplished  by  human  ex; 
ertion,  I  will  attempt— with  a  mind  devoted  to  the  general  ob- 
jects of  the  campaign."  \  _  _  •.    r 
Hampton*s  letter  was  immediately  subniitied  to  a  coUucn  ci 
war,  composed  of  the  general  officers  and  the  colonel  comr 
manding  the  elite,  the  chief  engnieer,  and  the  adjutant-gtne. 


HISTORY  OF  THR  WAK. 


i%i 


unian  ex- 


ral  who  unanimously  gave  it  as  their  opinion, that  "the  attack 
on  Montreal  should  be  abandoned  for  the  present  season,  and 
the  armp  near  Cornwall  should  be  immediately  crossed  to  the 
Amer  cfn  »hore  for  taking  up  winter  quarters,  and  thPt  this 
nUce  afforded  an  eligible  position  for  such  quarters."  I  his 
&n  was  acquiesled  in  by  Wilkinson,  not,  he  states,  from 
Swant  of  provisions,  because  they  could,  Vi  ca.e  o  extrem,. 
V  have  lived  on  the  enemy,  but  because  the  loss  ot  the  dui- 
linUT^er  general  Hampton  weakened  his  force  too  sensibly 

^**ihl^lrmy^remSon  the  Canada  shora  until  the  next  day ; 
without  seeing  the  enemy,  and  then  crossed  over  and  went  in- 
to  winter  quarters  at  French  Mills,  near  St.  Regis,  on  tlie  bor- 
ders oH-.ower  Canada.  l\\„r.'^ 
Meanwhile  general  Harrison,  having  embarked  at  Detroit, 
with  those  of  his  troops  whf)se  term  of  service  had  not  expir- 
Td  or  who  were  not  ionsidered  necessary  for  the  defence  of 
the  country  he  had  overrun,  arrived  at  Buffaloc  towards  the 
end  of  October,  and  immediately  proceeded  to  Fort  C^^orge.-- 
General  Wilkinson  having  previously  gone  down  the  lake,  and 
the  fleet  having  not  arrived  f<>->he  transportaUon  of  H^^^^^^^^ 
troops,  arrangements  wei-e  nwde  by  him  and  general  M  Clure, 
whom  he  found  in  the  command  of  Fort  George,  for  an  expe- 
dition  against  Burlington  Heights,  at  the  head  of  lake  Ontario. 
Before  the  completion  of  these  arrangetncnts,  ^^f  ^^  ^,^.';"- 
modore  Chauncey  arrived  with  orders  immediately  to  bring 
Twn  Harrison^s  tW  ^r  the  defence  of  ^^^l^^^'^^^'^ 
Commodore  Chauncey  was  extremely  pressing  for  the  ti-oops 
immediately  to  embark,  stating  that  the  ^^^^S^^^'f/^;;  J  ,^^^^^^ 
vessels  was  very  dangerous  at  this  season,  and  that  should  the 
tpoops  not  get  down  before  the  lake  was  frozen,  the  safety  ot 
the  fleet  «t  the  harbourlRight  be  seriously  endangei;ed.    Ihe 
general  therefore  reluctantly  relinquishedthe  expedition,  tur- 
ther  delay  in  proceeding  down  the  lake  ""S; considered  im  ^ 
practicable.    The  troop*  were  embarked  about  the  middle  ot 
November,  and  shoirtly  after  arrived  m  safety  at  Sackett  s 

AfreTthe  departure  of  general  Harrison,  the  force  at  Fort 
Georffe,  under  General  M'Clure,  consisted  almost  exclusively 
of  mUitia  and  volunteers,  whose  t^rmof  service  w^^  on  tho 
Doint  of  expiring.  The  contemplated  expedition  against  Kui  ^ 
lincton  Heights,  was  once  more  undertaken,  but  the  roads  were 
f^,!!,j  -,,,*  i^.  In  niich  a  manner  and  so  obstructed  by  timber,, 
that  it^was'&und  impi-acticable  to.  transport  the  artilkL-y,  ami 
accordingly  it  was  abandoned. 

L    * 


m 


^m-. 


132  lIlSTO'llY  OF  THE  WAR. 

The  abandonment  of  Ihis  expedition  excited  much  disaaiis. 

faction  at  Fort  George,  especially  among  the  vo  untcers,  many 

of  «hom  had  made  considerable  sacrifice,  to  jo.n  th^rmy,,n 

the  1  ope  of  being  usefully  and  actively  employed.   1  heir  tt.m 

o   serJ^ce  now  expiring,  M'Clnre  used  every  effort  to  engaRc 

^h<  m  to  remain  foV  one^r  two  n.onths  longer,  but  m  yam.   He 

"as  left  on  the  10th  of  December  with  not  more  than  sixty  ef- 

'ctivereKulars  to  garrison  Fori  (Jeorge.  A  council  of  officer, 

was  then  heW,who^were  unanimously  of  opinion  that  the  fori 

^^ouM  be  immediately  evacuated,  the  advance  of  the  enemy, 

-Itoby  some  means  had  obtained  information  of  the  , taw  of  the 

•  nlace  beinc  within  eight  miles.  Orders  were  accordmgly  given 

o  tra'nspon  all  the  ar^s,  ammunition  and  public  stores  o  eve- 

rv  descriirtion  across  the  river,  which  was  pnnnpally  effec  ed, 

thoueh   he  enemy  approached  so  rapidly  that  ten  of  the  soldiers 

'vere  made  prisone/s!^  The  fort  was  blown  up,  and  the  town  of 

Newark,  a  vLdsome  little  place  of  about  f.»h°u-s,  situate 

■A  mile  below  the  fort,  was  laid  in  ashes.    »  I  his  act,    general 

MXlure  dTclares,  "as  distressing  to  the  inhabitant,  as  to  my 

iVeUnprs,  was  by  an  order  of  the  secretary  at  ^^i-- '  "The  in- 

htbSts  had  twelve  hours  notice  to  remove  their  effects,  and 

such  as  chose  to  come  across  fhe  river  were  provided  with  all 

fhe  necessaries  of  life."  The  only  reason  that  we  have  seen 

fssicned  for  this  outrage  is  by  no  means  satisfactory:  "  }^^)<-^ 

c'^emy  might  not  havlit  in  their  power  to  quarter  with  the  r 

?ud  an  Sues  in  the  village,  and  maraud  and  murder  our  cm- 

"  and  we  are  much  pleased  to  see  that  the  act  is  almost 

^'"j^nThi'Lth  :?C:mber  about  4  in  the  morning,  the  British 
crossed  the  riv^r  a  few  miles  above  Fort  Niagara,  and^succeed. 

'f  ^^  ,,1,   L  the  olace  by  storm  about  an  hour  before  daybreak. 

"  The  f5^am,ear«t  have  been  complexly  surprised.    The  men 

wire  3  all  asleep  in  theii  tents,  when  the  enemy  rushed  ,n 

we  c  neart>  aiiasi  ^  .lauchter.     Such  as  escaped  the 

.l"ry  o!r liTs  on^'seTretfredto  a  mess-house,  where  they 
Went  D  a  fire  on  the  enemy,  until  a  want  of  ammunition  coni- 
n^Fled^hem  to  surrender.  The  disaster  is  attributed  and  with 
oo  much  appeal  of  probability,  to  gross  neglect  or  trea- 
too  ™"<;"  °Pf  ;  the  part  of  the  commanding  ofiicer  of  the 

Tt  whoT  tatTd  to  havereen  absent  at  the  time  it  took  place 
Stw   hstandtg  the  attack  was  expected,^as  appears  from  the 
'•"1  jl,  :  "",..'';.a,.,d  h«  M'Clure  a  few  days  previous. 
'''''After  rte'captureof'ihe  "fort,  the  British  with  a  large  bociy 
„f  Indians    oroceeded  op  the  river  as  far  as  Lewistown,  and, 
hS  driVe^ff  a  det^'^'^ment  of  militia  stationed- at  Lewis- 


•% 


■»v. 


H4STOUY  OF  THE  WAR. 


4 


19^ 


town  Heiehts,  burnt  that  village  and  those  of  Youngstown  and 
M^nchest^r  and  the  Indian  Tuscarora  village.  A  number  ot 
the  iSs  ve  inhabitant*  ^  said  to  have  been  butcbeml  b. 
Te  TSeTon  the  30th  aiiuther  detachn^ent  of  the  British  and 
ndian??ro83ed  the  Niagara,  near  the  Black  Rock.  They  were 
Kv  the  militia  under  general  Halli  but  overpowered  by 
rumbL'anTth^^^^^^^  enemy,  the  militia  scK>n  gave 

way  and  fled  on  every  side,  and  every  attempt  to  rally  them 
^  •V.^frrrtnnl    The  enemy  then  set  fire  to  Black  Rock,  when 

thus  completinK  the  desolation  of  the  wJ«o^^  f  *«  ^lagais 
frontier,  as  a  relaliation  for  the  burning  °f  NeY"*-       _ 

Sprious  aoorehensions  were  entertained  for  the  sateiy  oiine 
fleet  at  Eric-  the  eneV  .,  ho^yever,  did  not  attempt  to  pene  rate 
funhfr  ft  the  L.nent/;nd  a  sufficient  force  was  sck,„  collect- 
ed for  its  defence,  »hich  r«n'a•n«<^'•"'^'"S.'^'''' *r;he  north 

While  active  onerations  were  thus  carried  <jp,  on  the  nortn 

Xnhwerrn'frontier  of  the  United  State^  *«  -'~! 
of  warbecan  to  extend  to  the  southern  portion.  In  the  sum 
„e  of  18^.3,  the  Creek  nation  commenced  bo'^;!'""  ^y  an  a^^- 
lack  on  Fort  Mims,  ,  post  upon  'heTensaw  river.  Befoe  we 
eiaer  on  a  narrative  of  the  events  of  this  war,  ho^f^"' ''*;'; 
be  pi-oper  to  notice  another  important  event  «>''';''  t  surrender 
in  this  quarter,  in  the  month  of  April;  namely,  the  surrender 
of  Mobile  to  the  arms  ot  the  United  States  _   _f  Qcto- 

Bv  the  treaty  of  St.  Udefonso,  concluded  on  the  1"0'^"° 

ber,^800    between    France  and  ??»'"' ^'j.^'f"r'"f  Pa'- 
dpr^tion  of  certain  stipulations  in  favour  "^  *«/»^^  "^  ^'; 
1,  ceded  to  the  French  republic  "  the  ,<=°  ""V  °;^P"^?„"'^^t 
of  Louisiana;  with  tht  same  extent  that  't*°"  ^^f  '"^  \^\ 
hands  of  Spain,  and  that  it  had  when  France,  P°^^"f  " 
and  such  as  it  should  be  after  the  "ef'^.r^^ntreity   con- 
ed into  between  Spain  and  other  states.-      By  »  W**^''   =°^^ 
eluded  at  Paris,  on' the  30tb  of  ApriM1803,  Fra"\«  "^*^ 
,0  the  United  Stales  the  territory  she  had  acquired  by  the 
treaty  of  St.  Udefonso,  «  as  fully  and  m  the   same  manner 
a,  they  have  been  acquired  by  the  F'-«"^h  lepoblic.        in 
.  virtue   of  the -above-mentioned   treaties,  th«  United   SUtes 
claimed  as  the  southern  portion  of  Louisiana,  all  the  coun  ry 
IvinK  between  the  Sabine  and  Perdido  river^        ..l,3Tat 
Jovfrnmem,  however,  resisted  this  c  aim,  =;"<i.<=°"«"^f, ^V^,*,' 
L  eastern  boundary  was  the  riv-^r  »l'ss'ss'PPi,  »d  thej,ake^ 
T»/f-..„^„^^  „.,,!  ij««tnV,a«train.     This  country  has  accorcuiigiy 
brenTrsubi'eif^f  negoclation  for  several  years  het«een  tne 
American  and  Spanish  governments,  the  latter  still  holding 


i« 


XH 


HISTORY    OF   THE  WAB. 


possession  of  the  country.     This  negotiation  was  i^ut  an  end 
toby  the  troubles  which  took  place  in  old  Spain,  m  1807;  and 
a  revoluUon  breaking  out  in  Florida,  the  United  Stat^  on  the 
ground  that  Spain  could  no  longer  hold  possession  of  the  coun- 
try, and  that  her  rights  would  be  jeopardized  or  lost  by  suffer- 
ing  it  to  pass  into  the  hands  of  a  third  party  (the  revolution- 
ists),  on  whom  they  could  have  no  claim,  took  possession  of 
the  whole  disputed  country,  in  1 8 1 2,  except  the  post  of  Mobile, 
a  small  fortified  town  of  about  400  inhabitants,  situated  on  the 
west  side  of  Mobile  bay,  which  continued  to  he  held  by  a 
Spanish  gamson  until  the  15th  of  April,  1813,  when  it  was 
summoned  to  surrender  to  the  arms  of  the  United  States,  un- 
der general  Wilkinson,  which  was  immediately  done  without 
the  slightest  opposition.  .,      ,       \     rr  i.  j 

The  country  of  the  Creek  Indians,  with  whom  the  United 
States  was  at  war,  is  situated  in  the  western  part  of  the  state 
of  Georgia,  and  the  eastern  part  of  the  Mississippi  territory, 
between  the  Oakmulgee  and  Tombigbee  rivers:  and  extends 
from  the  Cherokee  country,  which  borders  on  Tennessee,  to 
Florida.  In  the  course  of  the  last  summer,  several  fanralies 
were  murdered,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio  river,  by  a  party 
of  Indians  passing  from  the  great  lakes  to  the  Upper  Creeks. 
The  principal  chiefs  of  the  nation,  on  the  application  ot  the 
United  States'  agent,  determined  to  punish  the  murderers  by 
putting  them  to  death,  and  a  party  of  warriors  was  appointed 
to  exiecute  their  determination.  This  was  no  sooner  done, 
than  the  resentment  of  the  friends  of  the  murderers  broke  out 
in  acts  of  open  violence  against  all  who  had  been  m  any.  wa^ 
concerned  in  causing  the  murderers  to  be  put  to  death,  *nd  a 
civil  war  was  t*ie  consequence.  It  2ifP«arB,  however,  that 
this  circumstance  only  produced  a  premature  disclosure  of 
their  object,  as  it  has  since  been  ascertained  that  most  of  the 
Upper  Creeks  had  previously  determined  to  take  part  with  the 
northern  Indians  in  their  war  with  the  United  States. 

About  the  middle  of  July,  the  secretary  at  war  wrote  to 
the  governor  of  Georgia,  and  at  the  same  time  transmitted  a 
copy  of  his  letter  to  the  governor  of  Tennessee;  stating,  that 
information  through  various  channels  had  reached  the  general 
government,  of  the  hostility  of  a  portion  of  the  Creek  nation, 
and  of  the  necessity  of  breaking  it  down  by  some  prompt  and 
vigorous  measures;  and  suggested  the  propi'iety  of  ^body- 
ing a  portion  of  the  Georgia  militia,  who  should  either  act 
separately  against  the  enemy,  or  in  concert  with  anotl^r  corps 
of  militia-  drawn  from  Tennessee.  This  letffer  was  ceceived 
by  governor  Mitchell  ui  the  end  of  July,  when  he  immediately 


took  niea 

militia,  ^ 

river.    1 

brigade. 

Meanv 

The  frie 

retreat  t 

against  t 

j^reat  ni 

supplied 

and  amn 

commen 

upon  M 

river,  in 

ley. 

Inforr 

a  large  i 

tentlons, 

it  occur 

whole  g 

front  ga 

sess  th< 

both  si^ 

enemy  i 

stockad 

retaken 

captain 

ho^  ai 

they  fir 

the  fort 

ends  of 

made  a 

liaving 

proving 

lempte 

many  c 

cscapii 

his  CO 

lion. 

commi 

The 

oHicer 

twenty 

ble  ci 

ihclr  i 


V 


IVlSrOllV   OF  THE  WAR. 


125 


th,  and  a 
ver,  that 
;losure  of 
)st  of  the 
t  with  the 

wrote  to 
smitted  a 
ting,  that 
e  general 
ik  nation, 
Dmpt  and 

^body- 
iilher  act 
jl\cr  corps 

received 
mediateiy 


.  ni.  measures  for  calling  out  fifteen  hundred  of  the  Geotgia 
':tia  who  were  soon^fter  marched  to  the  Oakmulgee 
I^Jer     T^ir  number  was  subsequently  enlarged  to  a  full 

^"Melnwhile  appearances  became  every  day  more  threatening. 
The  Sly  Indians  were  forced  to  leave  their  towns  and 
Itreat  towards  the  white  settlements,  and  fortify  themselves 

eaTnst  thrattacks  of  the  war  party.  The  latter  proceeded  m 
S  numbers  to  the  south,  where  Mt  is  sserted  they  we^e 
suDDlied  by  the  Spanish  govenior  of  Pensacola  with  arms 

rammunhion.  At  last,  upon  the  30th  of  August,  1813,  hey 

mmenced.  hostilities  against  the  United  States,  by  an  attack 

url  Mim's   fort,  on  the  Tensaw,  a  branch  of  the  Mobile 

river,  in  the  Mississippi  territory,  commanded  by  major  Ueas- 

^'^Information  had  been  received  about  a  week  Previous,  that  ^ 
a  laree  number  of  Indians  were  approachmg  with  hostile  in- 
tentldns,  but  the  attack  was  wholly  unexpected  at  the  momem 
it  occurred,  which  was  atfout  eleven  m  the  forenoon.     1  he 
whole  garrison,  however,  was  immediately  under  arms.     1  h© 
tront  gtte  being  open,  the  enemy  ran  in  great  "^"^^ers  to  pos- 
sess themselves  of  it,  and  in  the  contest  for  it  many  fell  oa 
both  sides.    Soon  however,  the  action  ^ecame  general,  the 
enemy  fighting  on  all  sides  in  the  open  field,  and  as  "ear  the 
stockade  as  they  could  get.     The  port-holes  were  taken  and 
retaken  several  times.     A  block-house  was  contended  for  by 
captain  Jack,  at  the  head  of  his  riflemen,  for  the  space  of  an 
ho^  after  the  enemy  were  m  possession  of  part  ot  it,  wnen 
they  finally  succeeded  iij^driving  his  company  into  a  house  in 
the  fort,  aid,  having  stopped  many  of  the  P^^-^^^^^  J\^^^^^^^^^ 
ends  of  rails,  possessed  themselve-.  of  the  walls.     The  troops 
made  a  most   gallant  defence  from  the  houses,  but  the  enemy 
having  set  fire  to  the  roofs,  and  the  attempt  to  extinguish  it 
proving  unsuccessful,  the  few  who  now  renriamed  alive  at- 
tempted a  retreat,  having  previously  thrown  mto  the  flames 
nmny  of  the  guns  of  the  dead.     Few,  however,  succeeded  lu 
escaping.    Major  Beasley  fell  gallantly  fightmg  at  the  head  of 
his  command,  near  the  gate,  at  the  commencement  of  the  ac- 
lion.     The  other  officers  fell  nobly  doing  their  duty;  tl  e,  non- 
commissioned officers  and  soldiers  behaved  equally  wel  . 

The  lose  of  the  Americans  was  great;  sixty-five,  mcludmg 
oF^cers  and  men,  of  the  Mississippi  territory  volunteers,  and 
twcnty-seven  volunteer  militia,  were  killed  Many  respecta- 
ble citizens,  with  numerous  families,  who  had  abandoned 
ihcir  farms,  ana  ilea  m  me  ion  mr  acvunij,  ^^  *-  «.—  - ? 


126 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


|i'    ( 


Ml'St 


or  burnt  in  the  houses  into  which  they  fled.  A  detachmem 
which  was  sent  from  cantonment  Mount  Vernon,  on  the  21st 
of  September,  to  collect  the  bones  of  their  countrymen,  col. 
lectediand  consigned  to  the  earth,  247  persons,  mcludmg  men, 
women,  and  children.  The  detachment  likewise  searched  the 
woods  for  bodies,  where  they  found  at  least  100  dead  Indians 
who  were  covered  with  rails,  brush,  8cc.  These  Indians  had 
been  interred  with  their  war  dresses  and  implements  by  which 

thev  were  recognized.  r  i.     j    * 

On  the  receipt  of  the  disastrous  intelligence  of  the  destruc- 
tion  of  major  Beasley's  garrison,  ptepamions  were  immediate. 
ly  made  for  collecting  a  large  force  of  1  ennessee  mihtia,  and 
providing  supplies  for  those  of  Georgia  which  had  already 
assembled.  The  Tennessee  miiitia  were  marched  m  two  dm- 
sions,  under  the  orders  of  major-generals  Jackson  and  Cocke^ 
On  the  2d  of  November,  major-general  Jackson  dispatched 
^briKadier-general  CoflFee  from  the  camp  at  Ten-Islands,  with 
900  men,  consisting  of  cavalry  and  mounted  riflemen,  on  an 
expedition  against  Tallushatches  towns,  where  a  considerable 
foixe  of  the  Creeks  was  concentrated.     Coff-ee  arrived  with^^ 
'   a  mile  and  a  haJf  Qf  the  town  on  the  morning  of  ^l^^  3d'  wher« 
he  divided  his  force  into  two  divis bns,  ^"^  directed  the^t^^ 
march  so  as  completely^b  encircle  the  town,  which  was  effect. 
Tdifa  masterly  man»r.     Wheti  they  arrived  >^ithin  about 
halfa  mie  of  the  towns,  the  enemy  began  to  prepare  for  ac 
Uon,  wmS  was  announce'd  by  the  beating  of  their  drums,  nun- 
Bled  with  lavage  yells.      About  an  hour  after  sunuse^thc 
fctionVas  brought  on  by  two  companies,  who  had  gone  wtthiti 
U^circle  of  aU^^^^^      for  the  puri^se  of  drawing  the  enen.; 
out  from  their  ifuildings.     As  soon  as  the  two  co-pame^^^^^^^^^^^ 
bited  their  front  in  view  of  the  town,  and  gave  a  ^^^  s^utten^^ 
shot  the  enemy  formed  and  made  a  violent  charge  upon  them, 
on  which  they  gave  way,  and  were  followed  by  the  Indians, 
untUthey  reached  t^  immediately  opened 

genei^  fire,  and  then  charged.  The  Indians  now,  in  th^n 
turn,  retreat  ng  and  firing,  until  they  got  around  m  their  build, 
ng  vhen  they  made  a  most  determined  resistance,  fighting 
to^t  e  very  last  moment,  as  long  as  they  could  stand  or  sit,  .^^ 
rLn  qhrinkino-  or  complaining;  not  one  asking  for  quartei. 
EveiT  wl^^^^^^^  in  the  Town  waf  killed,  and  aU  the  women  and 
^hUdTen  were'taken  prisoners,  except  a  few  whowei^  unin  n 
tionallv  slain,  in  consequence  of  the  men  flying  lo  the  houies 
"^xiigwith  their\milies,and  at  the  same  time  refusing 

'^Thrnumber  found  killed  of  the  enemy  was  186,  and  a  num- 


ber  ofoti 

The  nun 

Of  the  /. 

the  great 

with  arrc 

arms  of  t 

with  a  b 

with  his 

Coffee 

tion  and 

K  were  fi 

to  us  ui 

every  re 

appeare 

all  appe 

face  a  f 

the  sam 

Thei 

ment  to 

Late 

the  can 

rived  it 

the  can 

Creeks 

efforts 

with  tV 

that,  u 

the  for 

diately 

hundrc 

men,  1< 

with  a 

that  T»; 

the  ri^ 

few  h( 

within 

and  tv 


army 
Th 


'i0''-'^f  ■ 


HISTORY  Ur  THE  WAR, 


127 


»e  destruc- 
mtnediate- 
miUtia,  and 
lad  already 
in  two  divi- 
and  Cocke, 
dispatched 
ilands,  with 
men,  on  an 
onsiderable 
Ived  within 
3  3d,  wher« 
ted  them  to 

was  effect- 
vithin  about 
ipare  for  ac- 
drums,  min- 
sunrise  the 
gone  whhift 
g  the  enemy 
panies  exhi- 
vf  scuttering 
>.upon  them, 
the  Indians, 
ely  opened  a 
low,  in  their 
1  their  build- 
nee,  fighting 
indor  sit,  ii< 

for  quarter, 
e  women  and 
,vere  uninten- 
0  the  houses 
time  refusing 

5,  and  a  num- 


u,t  of  others  were  killed  in  the  woods,  who  were  not  found. 
The  number  of  women  and  children  taken  was  eighty-fodr. 
Of  the  Americans,  five  were  killed,  and  forty-one  wounded, 
?he  ereateTpart  slightly,  none  mortally;  two  oi  the  killed  were 
with  Irrows;  which  appeared  to  form  a  prmcipal  part  of  the 
rrms  of^ie  Indians  on  this  occasion,  every  man  having  a  bow, 
Th  a  bundle  of  arrows,  which  he  used  after  the  first  fire 
w  th  his  Kun,  until  a  leisure  time  for  loading  ofTered, 

Coffee  bestows  much  praise  on  his  men,for  their  dehbera- 
fmn  and  firmness.  "Notwithstanding  our  numbers,  says  he, 
we?e  far  superior  to  that  of  the  enemy,  it  was  a  circumstance 
to Tsunknown,  and  from  the  parade  of  the  ene»«y^^7^  ^ad 
eve  y  reason  to  suppose  them  our  equals  in  number;  but  there 
rpeared^o  visible  traces  of  alarm  in  any;  on  the  contrary 
all  appeared  cool  and  determined;  and,  no  doubt,  when  they 
^ce  a  foe  of  their  own,  or  superior  number,  they  will  show 

'V^^.^:^^'^^^^^^^^  -th  his  detach. 

''ti:^:^^:'e^eni-,  of  the  7th  a  friendly  Indian  arrived  at 
the  camp,  who  brought  intelligence  that  the  enemy  had  ar- 
rived h^  great  numbers  at  Talledega,  about  thirty  m^les  below 
he  camp,  where  one  hundred  and  sixty  men  of  the  friendly 
CreekXd  erected  a  fort,  the  more  effectually  to  resist  the 
efforts  of  the  hostile  party,  and  where  they  were  now  stationed 
with  their  wbres  and  children.     The  messenger  represented 
That    inTess  ieedy  i-elief  could  be  obtained  froni  the  army, 
Kwould  cerLinly  be  taken.    General  Jackson  imnrie- 
Ltely  eave  orders  for  takng  up  the  line  of  march,  with  twelve 
hmdred  infantry  and  eight  hundred  cavalry  and  mounted  rifle- 
SleavTng  behind  the%ick,  the  wounded,  and  the  baggage, 
with  a  sufficient  force  for  their  protection.     By  twelve  o'clock 
Tha   «iKhf  Se  army  was  in  motion,  and  commenced  crossmg 
the  rfver  opposite  the  encampm.ent,  which  was  effected  m  a 
few  hlu^'s^and  on  the  night  of  the  8th  the  army  encampea 
luhinflU  miles  of  the  enemy.     At  eleven  that  night  a  soldier 
rnd?vo  Indians,  who  had  been  sent  forward  to  reconnoitre, 
returned  w^^^^  the  intelligence  that  the  enemy  were  encamped 
LXi  a  quarter  of  a  mil^  of  the  fort;  but  they  liad  not  been 
rble  To  approach  near  enough  to  ascertain  either  their  number 
or  pre.-se  situation.     At  midnight  the  f  J^V      S  vwi  The 
ordered  to  prepare  the  line  of  march;  and  by  four  o  clock  the 
army  was  in  motion.  -  n««si1pv  nn^ 

The  iniamry    marcncu  i»  u;.^^  "'-•^"'V-;;''^:",  ^,.«      "'    irh 
mounted  riflemen  were  in  the  rear,  with  flankers  on  e.cn 


H- 


•  ♦ 


128 


HISTOHV    er    THE    WAK.  , 


w 


The  advance  consisted  of  a  company  of  artillery   «ul, 
nNik«t»,  and  two  companies  of  riflemen.  A  company  of  spies 
nTclied  four-hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  whole,  to  brmg  o» 
the  enn-aeement.     Having  arrived  within  a  mile  of  the  enemy 
at  sevfn^ovtock,  two  hundred  and  fifty  of,  the  cavalry  ano 
mounted  riflemen  were  placed  in  the  rear  ol  the  centre,  as  a 
ZTdVrZrve,  and  the  remainder  vvere  ordered  to  advance 
on  the  rightandleft  of  the  infantry,  and,  after  havmg  encircled 
the  enemy,  by  uniting  the  fronts  of  their  columns,  and  keeping 
their  reTr  connected  with  the  infantry,    to  ^ce  and  press  in- 
wards towards  the  centre,   so  as  to  leave  th.  enemy  no  poss,. 
SlUvof  escape.     The  infantry  were  ordered  to  advance  by 
heads  of  companies,  general  Hall's  brigade  occupying  tfce  right 

^"ib^Te1g?t1"lock  'he- advance,    having  arrived  within 
eightryardi  of  the  enemy,   who  were  jo-^'^d  >"  ^^^J.ck 
shrubberv  which   covered  the  margin  of  a  rivulet,  received 
from  them! heavy  fire,  which  the    immediately  -eturned,  a 
V.™  rhareed  and  dislodged  them  from  their  position.    The 
advance  now  feU  back,  as  they  had  been  previou^y  ordered 
to  u"e  centre.    On  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  three  of  the 
j^iUda  companies,  having'g'iven  one  fire,  -"r-"^^^;^' ^.J 
.,„.«,;th<itandine  the  utmost  exertions  of  their  ofticers.     lo 
fiU  up  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  this  retreat,  Jackson  imme- 
SLTy  ordered  u'p  a  regiment  of  volunteers;  but  finding 
advance  of  the  enemy  too  rapid  to  aslmit  ol  ^eir  arnvai  lu 
time   the  reserve  was  ordered  to  dismount  ancflneet  thtm.- 
•ms  order  was  executed  with  great  promptitude  and  ga"^; 
trv   and  tt^  retreating  militia,  seeing  the  spirited  stand  made 
bv^he  reserve,  immediately  rallied,  and  recovered  their  posi- 
^L    MurhiK  in  upon  the  enemy  a  most  destructive  fire.     1  he 
'J^gLgCent^  now  Vcame  genU.andin  f'^-^^^^hZ 
T  &««c.  wPip  ^een  flvinc  in  every  direction.     On  the  lelt  iney 
werm^t  aU  repS  by  the  mounted  rifiemen,  but  on  the 
Xm  i?  unfortunately  happened  that  too  great  space  had  been 
i?t  between  the  cavalry  and  infantry,  by  which  numbers  es- 
I  aped      They  were  pursued,  however,  for  three  miles  to  the 

"%rt;rlUhrenlm?ra^epresented  by  themselves  ^ 
a  thousand  and  eighty,  two  hundred  and  ninety-mne  of  whom 
tvere  feft  dead  on  the  ground,  and  a  great  many  «^^  k'"^^ 
irtheir  flight.  It  is  belteved  that  very  few  escaped  witho«  a 
wound,    the  American  loss   was   on-tc"  ~-'--  »-'      "•  • 

"  Ontht  1 1th  of  November,  general  Cocke,  who  ccmiuanded 


HISVOKY    OF    THE    WAR. 


129 


ho  ccmiuandcd 


.     .Up-  rlivision  of  the  Tennessee  militia,  ordered  brigadier- 
""  °'  1  vVhite  "vi  h  a  detachment  of  mounted  infantry  and 
«'"Yrv   w  4!oceJd  from  Fort  Armstrong,  whery  this  division 
"     S.ioned    on  an  expedition  against  the  Hillibee  towns 
7'thehosile  creeks  on  L  TallapSosie  river.     This  exped,- 
?  J  was  completely  successful.    They  penetrated  one  hundred 
"°?    f,!.nTe  encmv's  country,  and  burned  four  of  their  villa- 
"I'f  three  o?  wS  they  fotmd  deserted.    Previous  t«  the.r 
'''Ul  at  the  fourth,  they  learned  that  a  party  of  Ihe  Hosti  e 
?Ss  were  assembled  there.     Having  marched  the  whole 
^'r  !h.  nilht  nf  the  1 7th,  they  surrounded  and  completely  sur- 
°^«d2tola^ay  light  of  the  morning  of  the  18th,  and  of 
FhTwhot  mm,  which  consisted  of  three  hundred  and.  sixteen, 
the  »''°'*  f;3.    .ixtv  beine  killed  and  the  remainder  made 
;UT,."relSne:;i:- returned  tocampwher^the^^ 

'n'risT  %V;"Lr;C:ug"£hTh%°^-ched  rs 
^xSsiy  rough  and  Mlly,  and^they  had  to  pass  several  nar- 
f  mis  where  it  was  necessary  to  use  the  utmost  precau- 
row  'l«"«^'J„'';'^^^d''h<,,.ses,  likewise,  had  xt  be  subsisted,  m 
Treat  degrTe,'onsuc,h  supplies  as  could  be  Procured  in  the 
jSy's  country,  which  rendc  cd  their  marcl,  more  tardy  than 

"  ^rJ  gS  miiut  thrgh  embodied  before  those  of  Ten- 
nersee,^ere^  no™''ble   from  the  want  of  miUlary  supplies,  to 

Tr:  re'dl  active  operati^^^^  ^^^f -taly^drtS^d^for't'he 
gadier-generalStewa.^  bad  been  origi^^y  ^^^  ^^^ 

•„7uSn?'him'to   deXe'it!   acc;ptance,   brigadier-general 

^'^t:?d\Tet:ror^ov:Xr,  noyd  received  iiiformaUon 

th^t  numl3ers  of  the  hostile  Indians  were  assembled  at  Autob- 

ee  aTwH  on  the  southern  bank  of  the  Tallapoosie  river,  about 

see,  a  town  on  v"c  iunction  with  the  Coosa.     He  imme- 

^hLttt^^ea^^^^^^ 

destination,  a"^„  ^*""?  J^hey  ^ere  formed  for  action  in  front 
rr^town     The*  a:  achre.it  was  formed  in  two  columns 
wit    a  rifie     .mpany  on  each  flank,  and  a  company  o.  artillery 

in  front  of  the  right  column.         ,    _, ___^^^_,  ,  l,^ 

It  was  Floyd's  intention  io  nave  <:.oiui>.'^^^:,  -"■■-■■■ 

M 


*•,«. 


|,Q  UISTOllY  OF    lUE  ^VAB. 

enemy,  by  resting  the  right  wing  of  his  force  on  tanlebee 
■  Sat  the  mouth  of  which  he  was  .nformed  the;r  to«„ 
stMd   ami  resting  his  left  on  the  river  bank  be  ow  the  town; 
A  hisUrm'isI,  as  the  day  dawned,  he  perceived  a  second 
town  about  500  yaru    :    ;.w  thut  which  he  was  prepanngto 
Xck      The  plan,  tt,.        -'e,  was  instantly  changed;  three 
companies  of  infanJry  oa  the  left  were  wheeled  to  the  left  en 
ST*  and  advanced  to  the  lower  town,  accotnpanied  by  . 
rifle  company  and  two  troops  of  light  dragoons.    The  remam. 
der  o™.e  force  approached  the  upper  town,  and  the  battl 
soL  became  general.     The  Indians  presented  themselves  a 
evt  V  point,  and  fought  with  desperate  bravery;  but  the  well 
dhtcfd  fire-of  the  artillery  and  the  bayonets  of  the  infanhy 
soon  forced  them  to  take  refuge  in  the  out-houses,  thickets  and 
^^«,..  hrthe  rear  of  the  town.     Many,  it  was  supposed,  se- 
P   1  ,1  ^n^^lves  in  caves,  previously  formed  for  this  purpose 
in'ihe  high  bluTof  .he  rive^,  which  'was  thickly  covered  w  th 
1    r  »nd  brush-wood.     It  was  intended  that  the  friendly  In- 
dil  sVould  have  crossed  the  river  above  the  town,  and  been 
tTed  on  the  opposite  shore  during  the  action,  to  fire  on  such 
^f  the  enemy  ai  should  attempt  to  escape,  or  to  keep  in  check 
anv  reinfo^Iments  which  might  be  attempted  to  be  thrown. n 
?,L  the  neighbouring  -  wns.     Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  the 
fl7  however,  and  the  coldness  of  the  weather  and  lateness  ol 
.?l  hm,r  Ihis  arrangement  failed,  and  their  leaders  were  di- 
rectecUo'crt^s  CaTbee  creek,  and  occupy  that  flank,  to  pre- 
rccieu  lu  v-iw  Tallisee  town.     Some  time  after  the 

:ZrcZ:.e:Z.  te  is;  Indians  ^o.,^^^^^ 
tn  the  rear  of  the  militia,  when  the  hostile  tribes  fell  on  the 
flanks  of  the  detachment,  and  fought  with  great  mtrepidity.- 
ftv  nine  D^ciock,  however,  the  enemy  was  completely  driven 
?rL  the  ptns,  and  the  houses  of  both  towns  were  wrapped 

'""  U  was"  impossible  to  determine  the  strength  of  the  enemy, 
V  !  f ^nm  the  information  of  some  of  the  chiefs,  which  it  is 
sai^tuld  b^reUed^^^^  there  were  assembled  at  Aut.ssee, 
Iwk  from  eicht  towns  for  its  defence,  it  being  their  be- 
Z:TiroZ,  -  >ihich  they  ^oclain.ed  no  white  .  m  could 

-        *  A  fiosition  in  tvhkh  each  divnion  follotv.  the  Pre^cdir^S^^ 
Ike  theZcfis   of  a  ladder  (echelle), /rom  nt,htch    he  i.ordn, 
%Z.tA  tJsition  en  enchelon  is  convenient  mrernov^ns^ 
from  a  direct  to  an  obiKjue  or  d,arronai  Unc.-^uu-^u^  .  .tx»x.».; 
Dictionary. 


approach 

sible  to  a 

lying  scE 

in  the  to 

respectal 

water's  < 

viving  fi 

least  20C 

The  nui 

of  them 

aiid  fille 

killed  a 

Floyd. 

The  I 

provisio 

as  the  d 

was  abj 

to  the  c 

sary  as 

in  a  fe^ 

hosts  of 

marche 

On  t 

gia  mil 

of  gene 

towns  c 


UlSTOKY  OF  THE  WAU. 


13 


.1,  without  inevitable  dcstruclioA.  Neither  was  it  pos- 
^.ppioach  *'^V  .„  .h^V^  lo«-  but  from  the  number  which  wert 
^'^'^  ^:S  otr  the  fieldTtogether  with  those  destroyed 
lying  S'^»"*'^''J7J„,"  .!,:„  on  tlTe  bank  of  the  river,  whom 
'»*'S"offi"ersaffirmTd  they  saw  lying  in  heaps  at  the 
respectable  officers  amrm  y        ecipitated  by  their  sur- 

water's  edge,  wneie  iney  im  i        i  ^^^^^  ^^ 

viving  friends,  the.r  ^ss,  m  ">«>  »^°';«;  ^^  Tallisee  lyings, 
least  200,  among  whom  were  the  Auoss^e  ^_^^^ 

The  number  of  b";^"^?^  l^"^"'/;  =^  PP°,,,,,,i  „(  ,,vages, 
of  them  were  of  »  ^"  '5''°'^°™"  -rhe  Americans  had  elc>r:n 
rtd^^V^y-forwVS-am'^^^^^         lauer  was  genera. 

'"'«  ''"td^hlitSnT^^^^^^^^ 

rrhi:!L%p;7sTd;toprevent^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

iro«ir"irO>t^';:  ^L'-detXenJ^etuLd  to 

Twenty-threeoftheAm^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

soners  at  the  battle  ot  Q'^."^^";'''^^^  detained  in  rigorous 

were  sent  to  Lngland,  "  'V'^  f  "'>'(7\,,i,  being  made  known 

^^::^^^'::t^r&  ^p^y  *>'ded  t=ri 
ssr„?oTc:7n''^.^rl"rt« 

^h  loWUrs,  to  be  kept  as  hostages  for  the  safely  and  exchange 
isn  soiaicis,  lu  u^  IV  J;'  'pu:»  nrrlrr  was  earned  into  exc- 

tt  {,"=;?=-.  i; «-:r-iT;= 

captured  at  fort  Ueorgc,  m   ^^^^  V'^" '■',".■■"',„. '.g^ 
Dearborn  apprised  the  governor  of  Canada  in  a  letter  ciatcu 

the  3lst  of  that  month. 


.:j;iSE^&3*»-i.«i^™w- 


132 


HISTORY  0¥  THE  WAR. 


(.1! 


General  Dearborn's  letter  was  transmitted  to  the  Bijiisli 
government,  who  immediately  instructed  governor  Prcvost  ,o 
ftale  to  the  commander  of  the  American  forces,  fo^.'^e  nlor- 
mation of  his  government,  that  he  was  commanded  '-forthwith 
w  pu"  in  close  confinement  forty-six  American  officers  and 
non?commissioned  officers,  to  be  held  as  hostages  for  the  safe 
keep^neTthe  twenty-three  British  soldiers  stated  to  have 
been  put  °n  close  confinement  by  order  of  the  American  gov 

""Thave  been  directed  at  the  same  time  to  apprise  you," 
,„n,Lt,  PiCTost  in  a  letter  to  general  Wilkinson,  «  that  if 
Ty  of  t*  e  -Id  Br  t"sh  soldiers  Lall  suffer  death  by  reason 
tZ  anv  of  the  said  soldiers  of  the  United  States  now  under 
ctfi^Lent  in  England  have  been  found  guilty,  and  that  the 
knownTaw,  not  only  of  Great  Britain,  but  of  every  independent 
stauunde'r  similar  circumstances,  has  been  m  consequence 
eLeculed,  Uia   I  have  been  furllier  instructed  to  select  out  o 

he  American  officers  and  non-commissioned  officers,  whom 
shall  have  put  into  confinement,  .as  many  as  may  double  the 
number  If  the  British  soldiers  who  shall  have  Deen  so  unwm- 
Xblnnit  to  death,  and  to  cause  such  officers  and  non  co. 
missioned  officers  to  suftcr  death  immediatcl).     I ]>»«  been 

hirther  instructed  by  his  majesty's  govermneiU^o  nol.f^^you 

for  the  information  of  the  S°r'^'T*="' °? '\';Vfl''«fs  orthe 
that  the  commanders  of  his  majesty's  armies  and  Aeets  on  the 

Toasts  of  America,  have  received  '".«"»<= """J  '°  P ;„=^^,td 
the  wir  with  unmitigated  severity  against  a'l  cities,  towns,  ana 
villaMs  belonging  to  the  United  Slates,  and.aga.nst  the  mha- 
S  thereof  if,  after  this  communication  'hall  have  b 
made  to  you,  and  a  reasonable  time  given  for  its  bemg  trans 
"  tted  to'^  th'e  American  government,  that  government  shaU 
unhapnily  not  be  deterred  from  putting  to  death  any  ol  the 
s  Ss  who  now  are,  or  who  may  hereafter  be  kept  as  hos- 
llljrfor The  purposes'stated  in  the  letter  from  major-general 

°GeS  Wilkinson,  in  his  answer  to  general  Prevost's  let- 
ter?  st:Ls,  that  he  should  immediately  "--'l^^^T,:  « ! 
to  the  executive  of  the  United  States.  "  ^  *?'^^»''  ;°^'" 
-  -lies  Wilkinson,  »  to  animadvert  on  the  acts  ol  oui  superiors 
w  "teVei  may  be  their  tendency;,  but  you  ■""«' P-'>- ^t^^ 
taking  exception  to  an  expression  m  your  leUer._^The^go_j^ 
<»rr>ment  of  the   United  States  cannoi  uc  -  u^wn ----.,     -j    --■ 

roSmLns  of  life  or  death,  -^ /^Pt^!^- .^^aSh 
tion,  from  the  failbful  discharge  of  us  duty  to  the  Ameucan 


HlSTOnr  O?  THE  WAR. 


I,a  subsequent  comn.unvc.uon.^^  su^-': 

that »  the  govemment  of  t"^;  "  >f/,<^^J^"  ,ut  commuuic.- 
rably  to  the  Pn-'^PlV"'^  P^'P?'*  flject  of  the  twenty-tUrce 
tionof  genera  Dearborn,  °»  ''^^J^int  to  England  :o  be  tric.t 
American  soldiers,  prisoners  "^  ""'/'"i""  ^^ber  of  British 
a,  criminals,  and  the  ^°"fi"«J^^«^';V^^^^^^^^       ^fate  of  the  for 
soldiers,  prisoners  "j  "^-'esteD  taken  bv  the  British  govern- 
mer;  in  consequence  of  t^«  ^'^P '^^^^^V-six  British  officers 
ment,  as  n<>'^«'=°"™""f„fi; fttv  tiU  .  ot  1  e  discharged  from 
to  close  confin«"«°»V*^fXn^fkWn  that  the  forty-six  Ame- 
jSlteTrdrn^cr^ss^o^'eT^fficers  in  question  are  no 

'X-Z-^fprfvCst,  on  the  vefcipt  of  this  le.te^.    -.e^^^ 

■"T^ery  interesting  correspondence,  »1»"  .»  -';?,^i:J:^Vne"?li 
,ar  subject,  between  genera,  Harr.son  and  the  B  u.h  general 

If  ^eBku^h  aC,t  the  ba  tie  o?th"  Thames,  general  Proc- 
of  the  Bntish  army,  '"  ^  ,  Harrison,  requesting 

tice'anS  iSity  n  hisXcisions.     In  making  this  statemtnt 
V»UhV.  however  tt.  be  distinctly  understood,  that  my  conduct 

thi-'Ameriean  nrisoners  who  have  iaiien  ii-to  "i-  »"■■-=  ^^  Sj"- 
*?ProcMr     The  unhappy  description  of  persons  who  have  es.- 

M  2 


fili 


134 


HISTOUV  OB  THE  WAB. 


raped  the  tomahawk  of  the  savages  in  the  employmcht  ol  the 
Bri"sh  Kovemment,  who  fought  under  the  .mmed.ate  o,^eis 
oft  at  officer,  have  suflered  all  .he  indignit.es  a,>d  depnva. 
Uons  «hich  himan  nature  is  capable  »/ ?"PP«rt.ng-     1  here 
no  sinele  instance  that  I  have  heard  of,  in  which  the  pioperty 
o?the^officers  has  been  respected.  But  I  ar.  f^y^^XanS 
that  the  conduct  of  general  Proctor  has  b««» '^""g^VusrX^ 
pie  worthy  of  imitation  by  the  greater  part  of  ']>«  ^ntish  oft. 
cers-  and  in  the  character  of  general  Vincent,  I  have  a  pledge 
thit  he  wiH  unite  his  exertions  with  nnine  to  soften  as  much  a. 
possible  the  fate  of  those  whom  the  fo.tune  of  war  may  rec 

"'utui;  Srth'e"r:"iran:ther  subject  upon  which  I  wish  an 
cxpi?c^  'dec  aration.    Will  the  Indians  who  still  adhere  to  the 
cause  of  Ws  Britannic  Majesty,  be  suffered  l^o  continue  that 
hnvrihle  s,  ecSs  of  warfare  which  they  have  heretofore  prac 
cedigainst  our  troops,  and  those  still  more  horrible  depreda- 
bns  S™n  the  peaceable  inhabitants  of  our  frontiers !     I  have 
lumcienrevidcnce  to  show  that  even  the  latter  have  »ot  al- 
wavs  been Trpe.,-atcd  by  small  parties  of  vagrant    nd.ans, 
.  t  ng  ata  distance  f.-om'the  British  army.     Some  of  the  mo« 
M,-ocious  uistarces  occurred  under  the  eyes  of  the   British 
cr.riancler  and  the  head  of  the  Indian  department.  I  shall  pass 
trre  «-aRedy  of  the  river  Raisin,  and  that  equally  we  1  known 
w^iich  was^acted  on  the  Miami  river  after  the  defeat  ot  colonel 
Oudlev-and  select  three  other  instances  of  savage  barbarity 
imimUted  under  the  auspices  of  general  P'-of  <>y— ^"'hebe. 
commuie  1  Indians,  conducted  by  an  Ot- 

?owa;!mef,  w"hoM"uev^^;sLw  wit.  the  British  army  un^r 
V  our  command,  left  Maiden  in  bark  canoes,  m  «h.ch  the)  coast 
cd  Lake  Erie  to  the  mouth  of  Portage  river;  the  canoes  were 
^len  across  the  Portage  to  the  Sandusky  bay,  over  which  the 
,artv  proceeded  tothe^moulh  of  Cold  Creek,  and  from  thence 
Kv  taid  to  the  settlements  upon  that  river,  where  they  captured 
IhCe  families,  consisting  of  one  man  and  twelve  «omen  am 
V,?^r^n      After  takine  the  prisoners  some  distance,  one  ot 
t^w^mcn  wa"  dUcovLd  to^e  unable  to  keep  up  wiU,  them 
in  conscQUence  of  her  advanced  state  of  pregnancy,    bhe  was 
mmedTawIv  tomahawked,  stripped  naked,  her  womb  ripped 
oZ!l^d«^e  child  taken'out.  '^  Three  or  four  of  the  children 
^ere  successively  butchered  as  they  discovered  their  iHabi- 
:*.!.'!„ I". ".mwUh  the  nartv.     Upon  the  arrival  of  the  In- 
dianraVMalden,  iwo  or  three  of  the  prisoners  were  ra..sou.- 
ed  by  cornel  Elliot  and  the  others  by  the  citizens  of  Detroi^ 
whe«  they  remained  until  they  were  taken  off  by  their  friends 


1  ,«<  "J 
IllS'lOUY   OF  lUK  WAH.  >» 

^f  .h«t  nlace  bv  our  army.     I  have  been  in- 

r%rin,and  f°/„  >;i^„f„"''7^f  ^,,e  same  month,  a  large  party  of 
«  On  the  29th  or  30th  ot  U.e  sam  ^.  i„„  j^  Lower 

'"''■r\T"Ara  &OU  e  ncTr  th";:  pla?e,  they  murdered 
r Sfa,^.>^  co.Lth.g  of  a  man,  his  w.fe.  son,  and  daugh- 

-;0„.„gthe,astattacUupoFn^^^^^ 
tor  a  party  headed  by  a  Seneca,  an. n^  from  our  interest  the 
seh's,  was  sent  lo  endea%our  lu  ^^^^    ^^y^.. 

rd^Ter:[lT~^vlnrwho':vasworUng  in  her 

^"^-^  ji:s:K:'-ef  r  ,!jr  y  ir  fhf  ^^(  tj;:^ 

instances  of,"'"'"'*"''!  J;  ,,^,.,,,5.  thev  were  perpetrated,  if 
months  could  not  f"""  ^^^''(f  ^"„\;Sr,  by  parties  who  came 

The  tide  of  fortune  l.as  ^^anged  in  --■  favour,  j^_ 

sive  and  fl°"t.> '"IS  officers  ^U  determine  the  correct- 
tmc  conduct  of  the  Bril  sh  officers  « "'  ^      ^^  j.^        ;„ 

„css  of  mine  in  withho  ding  it.    If  the  W*  ^^^b^^^ 

let  loose  upon  «";;:;«  ^"f^fe^ltf^^^^^^^  of  my  country, 

of  having  sacrificed  the  ">l"'^»^;  »  feelines  of  false  and 
and  the  lives  of  our  fellow  c.t.zen.o^i^^^^^^ 

mistaken  humamty.  yoYonourablc  sentiments  which  ought 
believe,  possess  »  '.^'l*^°X  folio  «r  the  profession  of  ams. 
always  to  be  found  in  "'"'  "^;^';;°  "^.^j  inHuence  to  stop  the 
Use  then,  I  pray  you,  youi  a^no  "J  •  j  ^  proceeds  from  the 
dreadful  effus  on  o    'nnocent  Wood  -^1^^  p  ^^  ^.^  ^^^ 

employment  of  those  savage  n  '  ^  j  „|,e„  jt  ,s 

„„w  be  'I'^oovered  ,.s  so  latle  to  be  .  ep        ^^  p^^^^  ^^^ 

,nost  wan  ed,  and  »n,ch  can  have  s  f^^^^^^^^  ^y,  „ot  be 

'""fi  V::  r/presentteneraVion.-    Ages  yet  to  come  will 
^f':^t  ".n'roo'ted'halre'd  and  enmity  which  they  must  pro- 


'T 


136 


HISTORY  OF  THK  WAR. 


will  be  offered  to  me  should  ihey  be  continued,  but  I  solemnly 
declare,  that  if  the  Indians  that  remain  under  the  infllience  of 
the  British  government  are  suffered  to  commit  any  depreda- 
tions  upon  the  citizens  within  the  district  that  is  conrimitted  to 
my  protection,  I  will  remove  the  restrictions  which  have  hith. 
mo  been  imposed  upon  those  who  have  offered  their  services 
to^the  United  States;  and  direct  them  to  carry  on  the  war  m 
their  own  way.     I  have  never  heard  a  single  excuse  for  the 
employment  if  the  savages  by  yoiir  government,  unless  we  can 
credit  the  story  of  some  British  officer  havmg  dared  to  assert, 
that,  *  as  we  emploved  the  Kentuckians,  you  had  a  right  to 
make  use  of  the  Indians/     If  such  injurious  senUments  have 
Really  prevailed,  to  the  prejudice  of  a  brave,  well  mformed,and 
virtuous  people    it  will  be  removed  by  the  representations  of 
your  officers  who  were  lately  taken  on   the  river  Thames.- 
They  will  inform  you,  sir,  that  so  far  from  offermg  any  violence 
to  the  persons  of  their  prisoners,  these  savages  would  not  per- 
mit  a  word  to  escape  them  which  was  calculated  to  wound  or 
C^sult  Their  feelings,  and  this  too  with  the  sufferings  of  their 
friends  and  relatives  at  the  river  Rasiu  and  Miami,  fresh  upon 
their^re^coUecUo^^^  myself  for  the  trutli  of  the  abo^re  statement 
in  relation  to  the  murders  committed  by  the  Indians. 

GeneS  Vincent,  in  reply,  stated,  that  "the  account  given 

of  the  British  officers,  whom  the  fortunetf  war  has  lately  pi a- 

ed  at  the  disposal  of  the  United  States,  is  such,  as  cannot  fail 

-affording  very  condoling  reJlections  to  this  army  and  their 

^"r;ThVuS'you  must  be  sensible,"  continues^be  "  that  there 
are  several  points  in  your  letter  respecting  which  it  is  wholly 
beyond  my  power  to  'afford  you  the  satisfaction  of  an  *  exp^ici^ 
dedaration,' y et  be  assured,  sir,  1  shall  never  feel  ^^^^^^^^^ 
decree  of  hesitation  in  joining  you  m  any  pledge,  that  it  will 
evfr  be  my  anxious  wish  and  endeavour  to  alleviate  as  much 
alpossib^e  the  fate  of  those  who  may.  fall  into  my  power  by 

^'^bS  meT'r,  I  d^eprecate  as  strongly  as  yourself  the 
T>ernetratIon^facts  of  cruelty  committed  under  atiy  pretext; 
Tn^shall  la?Tient  equally  with  yourself  that  any  state  of  thmgs 
should  prorce^^^^  No  efforts  of  mine  will  be  ever  want- 
irto  diminish  the  evils  of  a  state  of  warfare  as  far  as  may 
ing  iu  "/»»^'_'  .^  ^^^  ,!„♦;«.  x«i,;rh  are  d«e  to  tnv  kinff  and 
be  coubislciJt  "v»i«.*i  i"-  ««-.iw3  tt  ,.^-  -- 

'TtL  Indians  ,vhen  acting  in  conjunction  with  the  tr«.ps 
„nder  my  command,  have  been  invariably  exhorted  to  mercy, 


m^\ 


HISTORV  OF  THE  WAR. 


ii?7 


solemnly 
iVience  of 
depreda- 
mitted  to 
lave  hith- 
p  services 
he  war  in 
se  for  the 
sss  we  can 
to  assert, 
1  right  to 
lents  have 
irraed,  and 
stations  of 
'hames.— 
y  violence 
d  not  per- 
wound  or 
;s  of  their 
fresh  upon 

statement 


» 


unt  given 

lately  pla- 

cannot  fail 

and  theii- 

'  that  there 
it  is  wholly 
m  *  explicit 
he  smallest 
that  it  will 
Le  as  much 
power  by 

yourself  the 

Ltiy  pretext; 

te  of  things 
ever  want- 
far  as  may 

ly  king  and 

L  the  troops 
d'to  mercy, 


,„d  have  never  been  deaf  to  my  anxious  entreaties  on  this  in- 
1  eresting  subject.  o/nnnal  of  vour  letter  to  the 

,:e\.tSt  r^rriS^'o?  his^  excenency   the 

,vas  productive  of  no  events  wh^hn,WlyaUe^_.^^  ^^^  ^^^ 

alien  ol  the  two  counlnes.    With  >'^^<'^^  '  „„^e  strain- 

Loops  io  the  ^^-".r^e    l%:^ve-u^^^^       for  the  support 
cd  n  bringing  forth  hei  peE,""'*  >      „         Britain  was  unable 

of  her  allies  in  Russia,  -!^^^^l^^'^„%TvLieA  States,  and 
10  make  any  effectual  impr«sion  o         ^;<.an  provinces, 

could  not  even  have  P''^?"^^''  ' ''"^^^  <)f  the  American  forces, 
but  for  the  raw  and  "ndiscipUnecl  ^'a^°°'        ;„  their  comroan- 

„„d  the  want  "f..^''^;;:  ';^f ..""e.sesCrattended  the  first  ef- 
dcrs.  But,  amidst  all  ">«  J"  "?"„' -.^^e  bravery  of  her  sons 
lortsof  the  army  of  A^'^r'^f'^'^'^t^.ticn  of  theist  two  cam- 
was  s.ufficiently  apparent.  1  !^«  "*";?  ^  t"  j  habits  of  discipline 
paigns  sufficiently  P™""''^^^^",""^,  this  rude  mass  into  a 
Ini-able  leaders  were  ««  «oXf^ ll^rsoil  of  freedom, 
ll^^fZryTel'.^X':^^'^^  -St  powerful  aggressors 
upon  the  rights  of  their  country.  ^;,^i  Vine  in  the  fields 

While  the  army  w^s  thus  aequ»'"b  «'     !>     q,  j       i,^  „- 

„r  Upper  C»"»f»' -"/ '^'^eX  im  m:  e"d  fficuH  task  to  per- 
publican  navy  hadanapparentl,.  t  mm  ^^  ^,^^  ^^^^^^ 

Ibrm.  Having  annihilated  the  na«e«  o^^  P^j^^  ^^  ^^^^^ 
of  a  twenty  years  war,  Bi  itam  y?*  eoiu  / 

our  coastsVith  1'-;^'-"-^:^^''^  rBriTish  nSn,  and  it 
rica  was  an  object  of  '"^.'?"'^™,"" illative  assembly,  that  m  a 
was  cbnfidcnlly  P'ed'e\ed  m  Vier 'egis  a^^^^^^^  r     ^ 

few  short  months  the  "  l'^>"°^t" Sr^^y  a  be  swept  from  the 
of  striped  bunting  at  the  n-ast^ead^ouW^^^^^^^    ^P  ^^  ^^^ 

oce«p.    Nay,  even  the  ^"^""^"Sj  ^  f^„  f„gates  and  sloops  ot 
tie  more  favourable.     W™*  ^?"   ^ad  succeeded  in  breakms 
war  effect  agamst  a  fleet,  yhi'^^  "^"       ^  ^^o  could  exclaim 
down  every  naval  power  in  the  world,  ana  w 
almost  without  an  hyperbole: 

«  Jnd  not  a  mil  but  by  fiermis'ton  ^iread. 


♦  BrUUh  Mval  Register 


■^ 


138 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAU. 


But  this  arduous  task  was  undertaken  with  undaunted  firm- 
ness,   and  the  result  was  as  brilliant  as  unexpected.     Frigate 
met  with  frigate,  and  fleet  with  fleet,  and  the  flag  of  the  con- 
Tuerors  of  the  world  was  repeatedly  struck  to  the  infant  navy 
of  the  rude  republicans.  To  hide  the  disgrace,  the  enemy  was 
fain  to  claim  kindred  with  those  they  had  affected  to  call  a  de- 
generate  atid  outcast  race,  or  to^resort  to  the  more  unfair  and 
mean  subterfui;e  of  designating  as  "  seventy-fours  m  disguise, 
the"friga?es  which  they  had  had  numerous  opportumties 
of  examininlboth  in  our  ports  and  their  <>-n,and  whichbuta 
few  months  before  they  had  laughed  to  scorn      The  f  iti.h 
vessels  were  also  made  to  undergo  a  metamorphoss,  but  in  an 
inverse  ratio  to  that  of  the  Americans.     1  heir   ships,   brigs, 
schooners,  and  sloops  were  converted  into  gun-boats,  ui  the  tu- 
tUe  hope  of  tearing  the  wreath  from  the  brows  of  the  noble 
lirrl,^  whose  modest  demeanour  and  humane  conduct  was 
such  ^s  to  extort  the  reluctant  applause  even  of  those  who  sub- 

•mitted  to  his  prowess.  _,      . 

Instead,  therefore,  of  being  confined  to  our  ports,  or  swept 
f,x>m  the  ocean,  the  little  navy  of  America  visited  evei7  sea, 
and  every  where  unfurled  her  stripes  and  stars.  Nor  did  the 
coasts  of  the  mistress  of  the  ocean  escape.  Vessels  were  even 

captured  in  her  own  narrow  seas.  j  .    .u        •«  «* 

Meanwhile  the  British  navy  was  employed  m  the  yam  at- 
tempt of  «  hermetricaily  scaling  the  American  ports,  or  m 
harrassing  the  coasts  ot  the  Chesapeake  by  petty  niaraudmg 
excursions,  whose  prime  object  seems  to  have  been  the  burn- 
ino.  of  farm-houses  and  oyster-boats,  or  the  plundenng  stock 
and  tabacco,  on  this  extensive  and  defenceless  frontier. 

But  by  the  occurrence  of  one  of  the  most  wonderful  events 
in  this  rnost  wonderful  era,  the  war  was  now  to  assume  a  very 
different  aspect.     Our  republican  institutions  were  destined  o 
undergo  a  fiery  trial,  and  the  hitherto  problematical  question  to 
be  resolved,   whether  a  free  government,   which  derived  its 
chief  strength  from  public  opinion,  was  capable  of  sustainmg 
itself  singll-handed  during  a  conflict  with  a  PO>ver  possessed 
of  apparently  boundless  resources,  and  whose  armies  had  just 
retur5ied  from  «  conquering  the  conquerors  o    Europe,     and 
di-tating  an  ignominious  peace  m  their  capital.     Nor  were 
other  unfavourable  circumstances  wanting  to  darken  the  cloud 
which  hung  over  America  at  this  eventful  period,   fhe  treasu- 
rv^one  of  the  principal  sitiews  of  war,  was  nearly  beggared  by 
the  temporising  policy  and  ruinous  expedients  whicu  rmaoeen 
resorted  to,  and  the  policy  of  the  enemy  had  succeeded  m  drain- 
ing the  country  of  its  circulating  medium  to  such  an  extent,  as 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


139 


^estg  P"i°^'^f  Americun  history  nevev  occurred  than  this 

"  Th/Sody  of  the  American  army  on  the  Canadian  fron- 
,1 J  remained  inactive  through  the  winter  jn  their  cantonments 
'f  French  Mills.  Preparations,  however,  were  early  madefor 
t  opening  o  the  ensSing  campaign;  and  towards  the  middle 
if  Februarf,  after  having  destroyed  their  temporary  barracks, 
i^fhrmSor  oart  of  their  boats,  the  army  marched  m  two 
and  the  major  paito.t^^       ^^^  Sacketl's  Harbour, 

'^htrheVtwrdsTatcha^plain,  under  general  Macomb - 
reneral  Wilkinson  remained  one  day  behind  for  the  protecnon 
ofthe  rear,  and  then  followed  Macomb  to  Vlattsburg.  The 
march  of  both  columns  was  unmolested  by  the  enemy. 

No  further  movements  were  made  until  the  end  of  March, 
«hen  general  Wilkinson,  learning  that  general  Brown  had 
marched  from  Sacketl's  Harbour  against  Fort  Niagara  deter- 
Tned  upon  attempting  a  diversion  in  his  favour.  He  accord, 
S  oThis  army  in  motion  on  the  Odelltown  road,  and  en  er- 
nl  C&a  on  the  30th  of  March,  advanced  agamst  a  position 
occuoied  by  the  enemy  on  the  river  La  Cole,  where  the  British 
harfortified  a  lai-ge  stone  mill,  and  erected  a  block-house  and 

"' An  eilween  pounder  had  been  ordered  forward  to  effect  the 
denruetionofthemill,  but  it  broke  down,  and  after  being  re- 
fa  ed/the  only  road  of  approach,  thi-ough  a  deep  forest,  was 
Corted  to  be  impracticable  to  a  gun  of  such  weight.  An 
oXu^n  prevailed  with  the  chief  engineer,  and  several  ol  the 
be  Unformed  officers,  thai  an  iron  twelve  would  suffice  to  make 
a  breach-  but  after  a  fair  and  tedious  experiment,  at  a  distance 
of  onty  three  hundred  yards,  it  was  discovered  that  the  battery 

^t uiCg  this"  ^X^atrwhich  was  returned  by  a  sloop  and 
some  Eun-boats  from  Isle  aux  Noix,  several  sorties  and  despe- 
ratTcharKes  were  made  from  the  mill  upon  the  Atnevican  bat- 
erV  thestweie  repulsed  with  great  coolness  by  the  covermg 
corns  and  the  whole'^body  engaged  displayed  the  utmost  gal lan- 
trv  and  bravery,  during  the  affair.  The  conduct  of  captain 
Spherson,  who  commanded  the  battery,  is  parucularly  no- 
Uced  bv  Eeneral  Wilkinson,  who  also  states  that  he  was  admi- 
rably seconded  by  lieutenants  Larrabee  and  Sheldon.  M'Pher- 
■  son  and  Larrabee  were  both  severely  wounded. 
I  Finding  all  attempts  to  make  a  breach  unsuccessful,  genera 
I     ......  .'"o  _..V  j_-.i  .1... i,n»i»,.».  railed  in  l.is  detachments,  and 


.;  > 


140 


HISTORY  «V    llIE  »AK. 


after  reniovim'  tlic  dead  and  wounded,  ar.d  every  thing  else,  fell 
back,  unmolested,  the  same  evenu.g,  about  three  miles,  to 
Odelttown,  a  small  town  just  within  the  Canada  lines. 

T  e  torce  of  the  British  at  the  position  of  La  Cole,  was  re 
norted,  from  a  source  on  which  reliance  might  be  placed,  at 
?5?0  men  That  of  the  Americans  is  unofficially  stated  at  be. 
tween  three  and  four  thousand.  A  small  part  of  this  force 
however  was  actually  engaged.  The  loss  of  the  Americans 
inkUledand  wounded  on  this  occasion  was  between  80  an< 
90.    That  of  the  British  was   10  killed,  46  wounded,  and  4 

"" 'Sinauspicious  opening  of  the  campaign,  joined  to  the  fail- 
ure  of  the  expedition  against  Montreal  th«  prececlmg  au- 
t^n,  threw  a  great  deal  of  odium  on  general  Wi  kmson,  and 
he  was  shortly  Ifter  superceded  in  the  command  by  general 

^^IMeantime  general  Brown  after  remaining  for  a  short  pcrioi 
at  sSt^s  tiarbour,  put  his  troops  in  motion  towards  the 
KiagTra  fron"er.  Expectations  were  entertained  that  he 
wiuW  immediately  drive  the  enemy  from  lus  position  in  the 
American  territory,  but  these  expectations  were!  disappointed. 
Duringthe  spring'^months,  tranquility  reigned  uninterrupted 
Moigfhe  whole  line  of  the  Upper  Canada  frontier,  save  by  a 
few  lartll  encounters,  which  shall  be  noticed  m  the  order  m 

"  A  smK^^contisting  of  about'  ,80  rangeVr^nd  mounted 
infVnti^,  under  captain  Holmes,  was  dispatched  by  lieutenant- 
colonef  Butler,  thl  commander  at  Detroit,  agamst  Delaware,  a 
^it"sh  nos  ton  the  river  Thames.  This  detachment  had  set 
^t  wKiUery,but  the  state  of  the  --'^  P^-^'^X 
cible  obstacles  to  its  transportation,  it  was  ^tt  »f  hind.  By 
these  means,  and  by  sending  back  the  sick  to  Detroit,  Holmes 
little  force  was  diminished  to  about  160  men. 

On  the  3d  of  Marc  1  intelligence  was  received,  that  a  body 
of  tSe  enemy,  nearly  double  his  force  was  descendm^  ^he 
Thames,  one  half  of  whom  were  regulars,  and  "-"e  remainuer 
militia  and  Indians.  Holmes  immediatly  retreated  a  few 
m^  t  and  took  an  excellem  position  on  the  west*™  bank  ol 
creek,  which  ran  through  a  deep  and   wide   ravine.     Captain 


•  General  mtkinson  ■aae  Med  by  ^ourt  martial  held  at 
Troy,i"Z  .,a,e  o/M,.  York,  on  va7^»  """""I'Znf  Ne 
vd  against  him  of  misvunauci  au.inj^  i---^"-  *  •  -7  ,T/j  ..-^,-„cf 
lfhomurablyac<,umedofaU  the  charge,  eMed  agtnmt 

him.' 


:ik-^m^ 


ttlSTOUY  OF  TI^E  WAR. 


Ul 


else,  fell 
miles,  lo 

!,  was  re- 
ilaced,  at 
Lted  at  ])e. 
this  force 
Lmericaiis 
en  80  and 
;d','  and  4 

Lo  the  fail- 


d  mounted 
lieutenant- 
)elaware,  a 
;nt  had  set 
ning  Jnvin- 
ehind.  By 
itji^Holmes' 

that  a  body 
ending  the 
remainder 
ated  a  few 
n  bank  of  a 
e.     Captain 


tial  held  at 
ions  exhibit' 

ited  agaimt 


Gill  was  left  with  a  few  rangers  to  cover  the  rear,  and  watch 
the  motions  of  the  enemy;  but  hardly  had  the  main  body  en- 
camped, before  they  were  joined  by  the  rangers,  who  had  been 
driven  in,  after  exchanging  a  few  shots  with  thtf  British  ad- 
vanced  corps,  in  a  vain  attempt  to  reconnoitre  their  force. 

During  the  night  of  the  3d,  the  British  encamped  upon  the 
eastern  heights,  and  next  morning  succeeded  in  drawing  cap- 
tain Holmes  from  his  position  by  a  well  contrived  stratagem, 
Tihich,  had  it  been  skilfully  followed  up,  could  hardly  have  fail- 
ed to  eventuate  in  the  destruction  of  the  American  detachment. 
Fortunately,  however,  this  was  not  the  case.    At  sun-nse  the 
enemy  exhibited  a  small  and  scattered  force  on  the  opposite 
heights,  who  retreated,  after  ineffectually  firing  at  the  Ameri- 
can camp,  and  the  reconnoitering  party  reported  that  the  retreat 
was  conducted  with  precipitation,  the  baggage  left  scattered 
on  the  road,  and,  that  judging  from  their  trail  and  fires,  they 
could  not  exceed  seventy  men.   Mortified  at  the  idea  of  having 
retrogaded  from  this  diminutive  force,  Holmes  instantly  com- 
menced the  pursuit,  and  resumed  the  idea  of  attacking  the  ene- 
my's post.    He  had  not,  however,  pi-oceeded  beyond  five  miles, 
when  his  advance  discovered  the  enemy,  in  considerable  force, 
arranging  themselves  for  battle.  , 

The  stratagem  of  the  enemy  being  now  apparent,  captain 
Holmes  instantly  took  advantage  of  the  blunder,  which  they 
had  committed,  in  not  throwing  themselves  in  hife  rear,  and 
thus  placing  his  detachment  between  a  fortified  position  and  a 
superior  force;  and  happily  he  soon  regained  hit  former  posi- 
tion. Here,  placing  his  horses  and  baggage  in  thd  centre,  he 
formed  his  troops  a-foot  in  a  hollow  square,  to  prevent  the  ne- 
cessity of  evolution,  which  such  raw  troops  were  incompetent 
to  perform  in  action.  Holmes  thus  calmly  waited  the  approach 
of  the  ehcmy,  in  defiance  of  the  murmurs  of  his  men,  wiwi 
were  unanimously  in  favour  of  a  retreat,  thinking  it  madnes*; 
to  engage  with  so  superior  a  force. 

The  attack  was  commenced  simultaneously  on  every  fronts 
the  militia  and  Indians  attacking  from  the  north,  west  and  south? 
with  ss^vage  yells  and  bugles  sounding,  and  the  regulars  charge 
ing  up  the  heights  from  the  ravine  on  the  east*  The  latter 
bravely  approached  to  withing  20  paces  of  the  American  llnCi 
against  the  most  destructive  firei  But  the  front  section  Wm^ 
shot  to  pieces,  those  who  followed  much  thinned  and  wounded) 
and  many  of  the  officers  cut  down,  they  were  forced  to  abandon 
the  chatge,  and  take  cover  in  the  woods  in  diffused  order,  with- 

BMsh  regulars  thus  repulsed,  they  had  recourse  16 then^- 


/'" 


"^" 


t 


14^ 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR.- 


B'A 


i'- 


n,«„ition,  and  the  firing  increased  on  ^»h  »'des  wUh  g«^  v- 
vacitv      The  American  regulars,  being  uncovered,  weie  or 
dered'to  l)^eeT,  that  the  b^t>w  of  the  heights  nught  «s.st  .„ 

Scir^iur^e^rtStj^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

"tn'the  otCt^ree  sides  the  firing  was  -tained  -jJh^-» "cU 

fll  American  backwoodsman.  Unable  to  sustain  «>  un- 
:;ual  a  c'^ome:.,  theretre,  and  favoured  by  the  «h.d«  rf^tw.- 
rrgh  t,  the  British  commenced  a  general  retreat,  after  an  hour  » 

'' cLufnft 'eHecU^ed  a  pursuit,  a.  the  enemy  wer«  »^ 
superCboth  in  numbers  and  discipline,  and  «the  mgh^^^W 
have  insured  success  to  an  ambuscade.  Besides,  as  the  crM"^ 
»„uld  have  to  be  passed,  and  the  heights  ascended,  the  at- 
temnt  to  pursue  would  have  given  the  enemy  Ihejiame  advan- 
la^e*^  which  produced  their  defeat,  as  '•  could  be  passed  on 
hofseCk  at  no  other  poiot;  and  the  troops  bemg  fatigued  and 
frost  bS^en  and  their  sLes  cut  to  pieces  by  the  "-^^n  ^»»^: 
it  was  not  possible  to  pursue  on  foot.    Captam  Holmes  ac 

•=°«mStol°  ?n"Xd  and  woundeO,  on  this  occasion 
a  JcuntfdT.!?y  to  a  non-commissioned  officer  and  six^nvat*/ 
U,e  British  official  account  states  their  loss  at  »* k>»»*'!j,  »^ 
mounded.  I  missing,  and  1  officer  wounded  and  taken,  iwo 
r^he  officers  were^knied,  and  ^e  same  """"er  wounde^- 
Th  s  sutement  do^s  not  include  «he>os;o^^^the  Indians^  The 
whole  American  foi>ce  in  action  consisted  of  ISO  ranfj"™."';,' 
7whom,  including  the  rangers,  ^0  were  milttia.  The  Bri  sh 
««.lars  alone  were  from  150  to  180  strong,  and  the  mUitia 
»na  Indians  fouebt  upon  thrKe  sides  of  the  square.  _ 

*  On  lake  Ontario,  t^ve  British  still  P'««Ji«<l  t"' ^S^lem 
.     which  the  addition  to  their  squadron  had  conferred  on  theni 

The  preceding  autamn.  Measures,  however,  ^T' » >*P'^„P^; 
ercs*^  V  Sackett'.  llarbwr,  towards  placing  t^e  hostile  fl««l^ 
!„  a  more  equal  footing.  A  handsome  ship,  rated  4*8un^  m 
S_-  -  ."  «.-.  u.>nched  on  the  first  of  May.  While  tnis 
S'^MonThe  stocksran  unsuccessful  attempt  wa,  mau» 
l^m^mio^^y  herup.    The  boats  wnployedmthjs*- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAB. 


143 


LernriM  were  discovered  by  the  American  g"?^  ^oals  i«the 
toy  and  were  forced  to  fly,  after  throwing  their  kegs  of  pow. 

''"commodot  Yeo  pursued  a  similar  policy  to  that  which  gov- 
erned Wm  the  preceding  summer.     As  long  as  ho  vvas  mam- 
Ltlv  soTerior  in  force  to  Cbauncey,  his  fleet  ruled  the  lake; 
I:  LbTg  could  induce  him  to  hazard  an  -pS-^J^'- ^  -"J 
the  force  of  his  rival  was  nearly  equal  to  his.     Uunng  tiiat 
™rt  of  The  summer,  when  thb  was  the  case,  he  lay  snug  m 
CI,  on  harboT    This  is  by  no  means  said  in  disparasenjent 
of  the  BritUh  commander;  for  every  circumstance  shows  that 
this  was  the  wise.t  policy;  and  perhaps  the  only  one -which 
rould  have  saved  Upper  Canada.  ,      «•    t 

On  the  Sth  of  MaV  the  British  naval  forcejinder  Sir  James 
Luc^s  Yeo,  consisting  ot  four  large  «hips,  three  brit:8,  and  a 
niXr  of  gun  and  other  boats,  appeared  off  the  yjUage ^Os- 
wego,  having  on  board  seven  cottipames  of  infantry,  a  detach- 
mem  irfaitillery,  and  a  battalion  of  marines,  under  the  com- 
S  df  lieutenant-general  Drummond.    This  post  being  but 
Tc^ti^Uy,  and  nofrecently  ocoipied  by  reg^Ha^-P^^^^^^^^ 
in  *  bad  state  of  defence.    It  was  garrisoned  by  about  300  re- 
KukrsVunder  lieutenant-colonel  Mitchell,  who  had  only  arriv- 
ed  a  few  ^ays  before.    Lieutenant  Woolsey  of  the  navy,  with 
a  small  body  «f  seamen,  was  also  at  the  village,  and  as  soon  as 
the  fleet. appeared,  the  neighbouring  militia  were  called  in.-- 
AboutTo'dock  the  fleet  approached,  and  15  boats,  large  and 
Crowded  with  troops,  at  a  given  signal  movM  slowly  to   uc 
shore.     These  were  preceded  by  gun-lwats,  sent  to  rake  tlv. 
woods  and  cover  the  landing,  while  the  larger  vessel*  opened  a 
fire  uoon  the  fdit.     As  soon  as  the  debarking  boats  got  withiu 
ranee^sf  the  «»hot  from  the  shore  batteries,  a  very  successful 
fire  opened  upon  them,  which  twice  compelled  them  to  retire. 
They  at  length  returned  to  the  ship*,  and  the  whole  stood  off 
from  the  shore  for  better  an^hoi^ge.    Several  boats  which  had 
been  deaerted  by  the  enemy  wei-e  taken  up  in  the  evening,  one 
of  which  was  60  feet  long,  carried  thirty-si^  oars  and  three 
sails,  and  could  accommodate  150  men.     She  had  received  ^ 
ball  through  her  bow,  and  was  nearly  filled  with  water. 

At  day-break  next  merning  the  fieet  appeared  bearin^fpl. 
under  easy  sail,  and  about  noon  the  frigates  took  a  position  di- 
rectly against  the  fort  and  batteries,  and  opened  a  heavy  fire, 
which  was  kept  up  for  three  hours,  while  the  brigs,  schooners,- 
and  cmi-bGats  covered  by  their  fire  the  debarkation  of  the 
^     ,J^      Tivs^    Asrt^riran."  were  now  forced  4:o  retreat  into  the   ^ 
■w«^*orthViortrwhftce'^f  Q  corapa|ics  met  the  advaucing  co- 


^ 


U4 


HiSTdRY  OF  THTB  WAR*. 


t)  \M 


lumns  of  the  enemy,  while  the  others  engaged  their  flank.— 
Lieutenant  Pearce  of  the  navy,  and  some  seamen,  joined  in  the 
attack,  and  fought  with  their  characteristic  bravery.  After  n 
short  action,  Mitchell  again  commenced  a  retreat,  which 
was  effected  in  good  order,  destroying  the  bridges  in  his  rear. 
Indeed  a  retreat  had  become  necessary  for  the  protection  of  the 
stores  at  the  falls,  13  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  foit,,  which  were 
supposed  to  form  the  principal  object  of  the  expedition. 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  7th,  the  British  evacuated  the 
place,  and  retired  to  their  shipping,  after  destroying  the  fort 
and  those  public  stores  which  they  could  not  carry  away.— 
These  stores  were  not  important,  the  most  valuable  having 
been  deposited  at  the  falls.  ^  ,  .„  j 

The  American  official  account  states  their  loss  at  6  killed, 
38  wounded,  aiKl  25  missing;  that  of  the  British  states  theirs 
at  19  killed  and  75  wounded.  Among  them  were  several  offi- 
cers. Mitchell  states  the  force  landed  at  1550  men,  while  t.he 
\mericans  engaged  did  not  exceed  300,  being  4  companies 
of  the  3d  artillery  \inder  captains  Boyle,  Romayne,  M*lntyre, 
and  Pierce,  a  company  of  light  artillery  under  captain  Melvm, 
i.nd  a  small  detachment  of  sailors  under  lieutenant  Pearce  ot 

4  he  navv 

A  short  time  after  this  event,  the  British  fleet  appeared  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Gennessee  river,  where  about  160  volunteers 
were  stationed,  with  one  piece  of  artillery.    Captain  Stone,  the 
comitianding  officer,   dispatched  expresses  for  assistance  to 
O^fferent  quarters.    The  following  day  the  commode     «  new 
ship  came  ta  anchor  off  the  mouth  of  the  river,  ana  .ont  an 
officer  on  shore  with  a  flag,  demanding  the  surrender  of  the 
place,  and  promising  to  respect  private  property  f  .^a?e  ?o  re- 
lisiance  should  be  made,  and  all  public  property  fa"hfo  ly  dis- 
closed  and  given  up.    General  Porter  arrived  while  the  flag 
was  on  shore,  and  returned  for  answer  that  the  place  would 
be  defended  to  the  last  extremity.     On  the  return  of  the  flag, 
two  cun-boats,  with  from  200  to  300  men  on  board,  advanced 
o  the  liver,  which  is  about  a  mile  from  the  town  and  battery, 
and  commenced  a  heavy  cannonade,  directed  partly  to  the 
town,  and  partly  to  bodies  of  troops  who  had  been  placed  in 
ravines  near  the  mouth  of  the  river,  to  intercept  the  reti-ewof 
the  Kun-boat6,  in  case  they  should  enter.  ....-" 

At  he  expiration  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  during  which  time 
thcv  threw  a  great  number  of  rockets,  shells,  md  shot  of  difi- 
nicy  iiiic^Y  «6.    _     ^ _«„^«   fr«  ARihs^  a  second  flac  was 

lent  from  the  commodore's  ship,  requinng,  m  the  nanie  of  the 
oommander  of  the  forces,  an  immediate  surrender,  and  threat- 


%^ 


;ase  no  re- 


HISTORY  of  THE  WAR- 


u^ 


■  Vi,.t  if  the  demand  was  not  coinplved  with,  he  would 
r„7l200  rellr  trc»ps  amt  400  InOians;  that  if  he  should 
»sf  a  staJle^man,  he  would  i-aze  the  town  and  destroy  every 
vestiBe  ofprorert;;  and  that  it  was  his  request  that  the  womc. 
Ind  childrS.  might  be  immediately  remove  1,  as  he  could  not 
Se  accounteb"  ir  the  conduc-  of  the  Indians.  He  was  to  d 
?h„  the  answer  to  his  demand  had  been  already  explicitly 
that  "'*  ^"J?*?;'""'  reparedtomeethim.the  women  and 
Sen  havtagreS.  dis^posed  of,  and  that  if  another  flag 
^hild  be  senion  thrsubiict  of  a  surr^uder,  it  would  no^  bo 
nrotecter  The  Hag  returned  with  the  gun-boats  to  the  fleet, 
?te  whole  t  which  c?ame  to  anchor  about  a  mile  from  tlie  shore, 
where  they  lay  unUI  8  o'clock  on  Saturday  mormng,  and  then 

•^  On  ufi'e^mng  of  the  following  day,  the  British  squadron 
was  discovered  making  towards  Pultneyv.lle.  another  small 
linage  on  the  magin  of  lake  Ontario,  and  information  was 
s  n?to  general  Swift,  who  repaired  thither  in  the  course  of  the 
nieh^  vfith  130  volunteers  and  militia.     Next  morning  a  flag 
was  *ent  on  shore,  demanding  a  peaceable  surrender  pt  all 
nublicnr^perty,  a^d  threatenSig  an  immediate  destrucuonot 
Sie  viCI  in  case  of  refusal     General  Swift  returned  for 
mXt^at  he  should  oppose  any  attempt  to  land,  by  all  the 
means  in  his  power.     Soon  after  the  return,  of  the  fla^,  how- 
Tve^  e^ne7a?Swift  was  induced,  by  the  pressing  soUcitat^ons 
and  eltreaUes  of  the  inbabitans  ?f '"- tow^  to  permU  one  o 
its  citizens  to  go  to  the  enemy  with  a  flag,  and  offer  the  surren- 
der of  U^e  property  contained  in  a  store-house  at  the  water^s 
edUconsFsting^  of  about  100  barrels  of  flour  c<Jn&iderab  y 
fcerin  cind  tion  that  the  commanding  officer  would 
Spullte  no?  to  take  any  other,  nor  molest  the  inhabitants. 
flTbetore  k,  ^turn,  the  enemy  sent  their  gun-boat^  with  se- 
veVal  hundred  men  on  shore,  who  took  possession  of  the  flour 
h^  the  store,  and  were   proceeding  to  further  depredations 
when  uene^l  Swift  commenced  a  fire  upon  them  from  an  ad- 
racentwo^ which  wounded  several,  ^nd  became  so  harrassmg 
is  toUu«  Them  to  re-embark.    They  then  commenced  a 

c^nnoS  tivm  the  fleet  upon  the  ^o*"' «^'<;\^"  ~„T,t 
tor  some  time,  but  with  no  other  injury  than  a  few  shot  holes 

"TstrlumeTe',;  these  affairs  took  place,  two  British  gun- 
boats  and  five  barges,  some  of  which  comamed  Wvitzers, 
ra^edby  ahouraw  sailors  and  marines,  under  the  commMid 
iMdiumu  uy^Mw     ^  _r  *u^  «^«o1  «avv.   were   cantiiredbv  a  dc 

Z^ZTl^'ri^'^^  -^^  bneida  warri»s;uu#r 

N   2 


\ 


p.    > 


I 


'^J*'f  # 


i-_"'* 


140  HISTORY  or  tHR  WAR. ' 

the  command  of  major  Appling,  of  the  first  United  States'  rifle 

^llTror  Appling  had  been  detached  to  protect  the  cannon  and 
naval  stores  at  Oswego,  destined  for  commodore  Chauncey  s 
ftect  They  were  embarked  on  board  a  flotilla  oi  boats,  in 
charge  of  captain  Woolsey  of  the  nav}-,  and  had  arrived  safety 
in  Sandy  creek.  Here  they  were  pursued  by  the  enemy,  wlio 
tvas  Kallantly  met  by  the  riflemen,  and  after  an  action  of  a  few 
minutes,  beaten  and  taken,  without  the  loss  of  a  tnan;  an  In- 
dian  and  one  rifleman  only  being  wounded.  ,.  ^  k    i. 

The  riflemen  were  most  judiciously  posted  along  the  bank, 
a  short  distance  below  caiHain  Woolsev*s  boats^  where  the 
creek  is  narrow  and  shoal.  Most  of  the  men  having  wUh- 
drawn  from  the  boats,  the  enemy  gave!  three  cheers  ftt  the 
Srospect  of  the  rich  prize  before  him.  His  joy,  ^^owever,  was 
of  short  duration,  for  at  this  moment  the  riflemen  poured  forth 

their  deadly  fire,  which  in  about  ten  ^»»«^^!^?f,*"n'^"t'^^Xe« 
total  defeat,  leaving  an  oflicer  and  13  men  killed;  two  cheers 
and  28  men  wounded  (the  officers  and  maiiy  of  the  men  dan- 
germisly);  the  residue,  consisting  of  10  officers  and  153  men, 

'"ISl^ASg  speaks  hi  the ^^st  term* ;jf  the j:ourage 
.nfgW  induct  of  his  officers  and  n^n  Car^Jjih^Harns 
with  Ws  tmop  of  dragoons,  and  captain  Melvln^  with  his  two 
field-pieces,  hid  made  a  rapid  march,  and  would  m  a  ^^w  m^ 
nutcs  ha^e  bcien  teady  to  participate  in  the  action,  had  the  er  )- 
inv  been  able  to  make  a  stand.       •  -j  ^  ...        »    i„ 

■rhe  captured  officers  and  met,  spoM  ta  l^e  highe«  Wrt«s 
of  commLdation  <rf  major  Appling_^.«d  his  nfl«. corps,  to 
whose  humane  and  «pi'^ed  conduct  they  are  probably  J^ebt- 
cd  for  the  preservation  of  the5r  hve».     The  Ifdiano  «ere  »*« 
first  »  reach  the  enemy  after  they  subrouted,  «d  had  com- 
^  ^ced^ecutinr-the  savage  rule  of  warfi^re,  »«^«>2.«^.  ^^ 
Anglo-Indian  example  at  the  river  »"»«' ^-'^f  °'?' J,"'™ 
rori  &c.  of  murdering  their  prisoners,  when  lh«  n>»jor«^ 
Ms  4en  happily  arrived,  and  iueceedtd,  hy  ft  pwwopt  and  ^ 
tenSned  eonJse,  though  not  without  violence,  in  ter»«.«me 
the  tragic  «cene.* 


mtUh  com-ettt'Bi^aiot,  tney  Kill  ^"«'r"'iJ^Ji^Z^tZ^ 
,Hey  mi  ^omt.n, Upturn  all  *»'''»-^'^,*^^*  ,  w/^' 
ynuno  ui  Indian  Wt  Mm—yt>ugti><!  htm  eat-thu  nojwtt. 


;*,^ 


HISTORY  by  T«E  VfA^ 


44r 


riMtt  ^ijtiJUti^ 


Sio  further  events  took  place  on  this  lake  daring  th«  w»r 

.wVJcordint,  exGentiiVp  the  capture  and  destractlon  of  ft 

''"  L«rat  thf  heirof  th/st.  Lawrence,  and  the  burning  ot 

nloits  were  performed  by  lieutenant  Grep^. 

^  iiLhfnff  of  itiitwrtance  took  place  on  lake  Erie.     The  only 

^.^  uf^»^foccnred  was  the  destruction  of  some  ^m\H 
^'f^T^^n^^^^vL^^^  for  the  British  army,  nt  Long 
'^^ty  ZTe^C^^^^  a  det«:ht«.nt  of  500  -JOG 

.n  from  Erie  The  mills  and  some  houses  occupied  as  stores 
tnenfronl  Ejiie.  ine  m  stationed  there  as  a  guard 

Tcourt  o?^niry  was  held  on  his  conduct,  whose  op.mon 

«1  eh  fro'mX  evidence  it  appears  the  enemy's  forces  derived 

'»^Kr^n.,nufacturinrnH»«  «  '"O  Tw  mmriico^ 
el  Campbell  «as  warranted  in  <l«='~y!»S ''«'»«  "'J^'^'/X 

T.ZV^  nSeSuv  involved  in  one  and  the  saMe  bv.rn.ng4.- 
™rf„%^««  to?he  feZting  of  the  dwelling  .nd  other  houses 
•m  he  vuKt  Dover?the  fourt  are  fully  of  opinion  that  colo- 
2,.  ?.mS  *as  erred:  that  he  can  derive  no  justification 
«,^%^^«Ml^t  the  owners  of  these  houses  were  act.ve^ 
l^ea^t*^he  American  interests  in  the  present  war,  or  from 
!K*t-facK.ttat  some  flf  them  were  at  tt,e  conflagration  of 
R,y,tr  In  thek  pm  zan  services  it  does  not  appear  to  the 
fo"un  °.tat  ^e'll^ab^unts  of  Dover  have  done  ™oret^.he^ 

c&fi;trute';:a^.ii^nel.S'r^^^^^^ 

!  s  emphaLX  the  wi^^ngof  the  British  government^ttse^ 
r,.nrlered  sdch  bv  its  subsequent  adoption  ol  the  measure,  ana 
Tgt  not  to  be  ascribed  to\  few  CanacUans  who  were  present 

»^^frc:»:tu'-? 


14S 


HISTORY    OF    THE   WAK# 


merely  inferred  fipm  the  absence  of  evidence  to  uiat  effect, 
but  is  candidly  admitted  by  colonel  Campbell  in  his  official  re- 
Dort  (which  is  in  evidence),  wherein  he  expressly  states-. 
Jxhis  e>cpedition  was  undertaken  by  me  without  orders,  and 
uDon  my  own  responsibility.'  ^  n  , 

a  The  court,  in  delivering  the  above  opimon  unfavourable  to 
colonel  Campbell,  are  fully  aware  of  the  strong  incentives  to 
a  iust  indignation  which  must  have  been  present  to  his  mind 
at  the  time  of  this  visit  to  Dover— the  massacres  of  the  Raiain 
and  the  Miami  were  not  yet  forgotten  and  the  more  recent 
devastation  of  the  entire  Niagara  frontier,  ^  accompanied  by 
many  acts  of  savage  barbarity,,  was  fresh  in  remembrance. 
That  these  recollections  should  have  aroused  his  fepUngs  and 
have  swayed  his  judgment,  does  not  excite  wonder  but  regret,^ 
SereYs  still  left  for  admiration,  his  kind  and  amiable  treat- 
ment  of  the  women  and  children  of  Dover,  abandoned  by  their 

"^Me^^nw^^hiTe'^ge^^^  was  occupied  _ in  collecting  and 

esc;  plining  his  forces,  and  preparing  for  the  invasion  of  Canada. 
O^  he  evening  of  the  2d  of  July,  general  orders  were  issued 
for  the  embarkation  of  the  troops  by  day-hght  »«^t  momng, 
when  the  army,  consisting  of  two  brigades-  and  a  body  of  New- 
Yo^  and  Pennsylvania  volunteers  and  Indians,  under  general 
P  B.  Porter,  were  landed  on  the  opposite  shore,  without  op. 
msition.    The  first  brigade,  under  general  Scott,  and  the  ar- 
[meri  corps  under  major  Hindman,  landed  nearly  a  miie  be 
o;  ?ort  Erie,  while  g'eneral  Ripley,  with  the  second  brigade 
made  the  shore  about  t'ne  same  distance  above.     The  fort  was 
Toon  completely  mvested,  and  a  battery  of  long  eighteens  being 
planted  in  a  position  which  commanded.  |^,  the  gamso^,  con. 
sS  of  137  men,  including  officers,  surrendered  prisonei^ 
of  war     Several  pieces  of  ordnance  were  found  m  the  tort, 

*trnV5-^a -ati  garrison  in  Fort  Erie  to  secure  his 
rear,  Brown  moved  forward  the  following  day  to  Chippem 
plains,  where  he  encamped  for  the  night,  after  some  skirmish. 

^^fhe  AmXar^^^^  several  times  attacked  on  the 

mornhig^of  the  5th,  by  small  parties  of  the  British.  Abo^ 
four  m the'  afternoon,  general  Porter,  with  the  volunteers  an4 
:1ns.  was  ordered\|  advance  from  the  ^^^. -f^^^^^^T^^^ 
can  camp,  a^d  take  a  circuit.through  the  woods  to  1i>e  Mft>^iB 
hopes  of  getting  beyond  JiJe  skirmisiiiug  H«V*^^''>«*^  ;;;^:^' 
and  cuttinK  off  iheir  retreat,  and  to  favour  this  purpose  the  ad- 
vance ^rl  ordered  to  fell  back  gradually  undev^^J^my  « 


Hre.    In  i 

the  light  r 

column  ol 

clouds  of 

that  the  e 

ly  gave  o 

and  Tows 

the  Amei 

tion  with 

By  this 

the  left  1 

eral  Rip 

of  the  re! 

keep  out 

right  flan 

jjosition 

the  'jrigs 

was  not ' 

taljon  or 

and  in  flj 

battalior 

destruct 

gained  a 

so  gallit 

The  1 

can  troc 

gained 

ihey  br 

a  mile,  J 

derably 

to  be  br 

on  theii 

the  hou 

retire  t 

The 

248  wo 

at  133  1 

Disp 

gencc 

on  the 

The  to 

fore  HI 

-  -^^^!  J 

their  1 
actual 


,.^,t^- 


MJLSTOHY  OF  THE  WAR. 


140 


lecting  and 
II  of  Canada, 
ive re  issued 
xt  morning, 
ody  of  New- 
ider  genertd 
without  op- 
,  apd  the  ar- 
y  a  mile  be* 
ond  brigade, 
rhe  fort  was 
bteens  being 
siiTisoB)  con* 
«d  prisonefs 
■/0  the  fort) 

LO  secure  his 
o  Chippevfa 
nae  skirmisl^* 

acke^  on  the 
itish.  About 
slunteers  an4 
f  the  iViweri- 
to  U>e  ieft>  in 

irpose  the  ad- 


,^  In  about  half  an  hour,  however,  Porter's  a?v»T»ce  met 
^^  r  wr  parties  in  the  woods,  and  drove  them  unul  the  whole 
^l':fn  oftl^^  B  H Uh  Tvas  m'et  in  order  of  battle.  From  the 
'Ss  of  dust  and  the  heavy  firing,  general  Brown  conclude^ 
,ttthe  endrc  force  of  the  British  was  in  motion,  jpd  "^st^nt; 

,!/  orders  for  general  Scott  to  advance  with  his  brigade     ^ 

^If  xUon's  artmfry,  and  meet  them  on  the  plain  in  front  of 

t  Imerkan  camp,  'in a  few  minutes  Scott  was  m  close  ac 

•n„  with  a  superior  force  of  British  regulars. 

""bv  hb  t-'mf^^^^^^^        volunteers  having  given  vrayjmd  fled, 

^   J  iv  Lnk  r,f  Scott's  bricade  became  much  exposed.  Gen- 

tl  tipl  y  V«  ac°  or»  ordered  to  advance  ,ith  .  p.n 

hhe  reserve,  and  skirting  the  woods  on  the  left,  m  order  to 

J.,n  out  of  view,  endeavour  to  gain  the  rear  of  the  enemy  s 

^^,  all^k      The  greatest  exertions  were  made  to  gam  this 

T    flo«ir    arid  his  men  fallioff  f&st  around  him,  ordered  ftis 
and  m  flank,  ana  nis  men  laiiiwo  ^     Amidst  the  most 

»S«^ng-grn7d-sSn^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

"  rStSi^srgt  resist 

Tni  I'b'ecl^  t":  p^u^t.  B?own  now  ordered  the  ordnance 
i  be  Lught  „p,  with  the  inte^mon  of  fore  0^  w-k.  But 
i:^:^.^^''Jt:^^''^oL.  ...  forces  to 

"The' Ame7can  official  acconnt  states  their  loss  at  60  killed, 
,48  woundeT^d  19  missing.  The  British  officially  sute  theirs 

'^i^^S^^^rwaTtTer^hli-c^n^^^^^^^^^ 

E^s:=r:hi.f:-rB^Ch^^^^^^^ 

l".!!u.r-„..,:„„  „f  Inrd  Wellineton'e  army,  flashed  wUh 
SlarrsaWes^Ssin  Spain,  had  arrWed  in  Canl^^ 
^uially  opposed  to  Brown  at  Chipi-ewa,  while  all  our  maritime 


ill 


I 


i50 


H&ftTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


H\ 


^t 


lh 


towns  were  threatened  by  Britain's  victorioHS  armtes,  whose 
arrival  was  momentarily  expected  on  the  coast.    When  the  in, 
telligence  of  the  stupendous  events  in  Europe  was  firat  receiv. 
.ed,  many  consoled  themselves  with  the  idea,  that  the  magnw. 
irahy  of  Great  Britain  would  freely  grant  in  her  prosperity, 
what  they  had  insisted  we  never  could  force  from  her  in  her 
adversity.  Sincerely  taking  for  realities  the  preteacts  on  whick 
jmr  weutral  rights  had  been  infringed,  they  thought  the  qim. 
tion  of  imp  essment,  now  the  almost  single  subject  of  dispute, 
/cttuld  easily  be  amicably  arranged,  when  the  affairs  of  the  worW 
were  so  altered  as  to  render  it  neariy  impossible  that  Great 
Britain  could  ever  again  be  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  "  fight. 
ing  for  her  existence;  or,  at  aU  events,  as  the  peace  in  Eurqx 
had  efFectuaily  removed  the  cause,  and  as  the  American  go^ 
ernmeni  declined  insisting  on  a  forn*al  relinquishment  of  the 
practice,  Jio  diffic«4ty  would  be  thrown  4li  the  way  of  a  geneal 
and  complete  pa<afioation  of  the  world.  ^       ^^ 

This  illttsion  was  soon  dissipated.  By  the  next  advices  fm 
.Europe  it  was  learned,  that  the  cry  for  vengeance  »pon  tk 
^kraericans  was  almost  unanimous  throughout  the  totish  m 
mvt.  The  pre&ident  wa^  threatened  with  the  fate  of  ©onapam, 
ittd  it  wias  said  thit  the  American  peace  ought  «o^  iKcUtol 
m  Waahington,  as  that  of  Europe  had  been  at  Paris.     E¥« 
in  pariiament*  the  idea  was  held  out  that  peace  ought  not  to 
be  thbught  of  till  America  had  received  a  signal  punishment, 
for  hdvmg  4ared  to  declare  wxr  upon  them  while  their  torett 
were  engaged  in  «  deavering  Europe"  from  it«  ©piprcssoM 
The  commencement  of  the  negociatkms  for  peace,  which  m 
been  proposed  by  the  British  court,  was  suspended,  and  strei- 
^ous  efforts  were  made  to  send  to  America  as  commaadingpi 

fm-ce  as  possible.  .        u     ♦k^  •«» 

l^er  these  circurastances,  a  vxtory  gained  J&y  tne  rw 


t%.>v 


■J^SirJasefih  Yovkc,  one  ^f  the  lords  of  the  admiralttf,  noH 

inparUament,^^  we  have  Mr,  Madison 4o  dep(^Wjort  vte  ew 

lay  down  our  arms ."  :   .';  ~ 

t  At  M  dinner  given  to  lord  HiU^  who  was  on  the  eve  oj  «oH- 

itfig  B^  the  hmd  ^an  rs:pedition  against  ^ew- Orleans,  Ae  statH 

me'Jieriod  when  he  should  emburJc  for  America,Mnd  added,  that 

«.*!•  itadno  doubt,  wUk  the  weans  already  there,  together  num 

*thr.si-  nn  ih*  mmi.  and  wh&$  wfre  promised  by  his  i^fince,   m 

'should  Immble  the  Yankees,  md  bring  the  contest  io  «  sfteed^ 

and  successful  terminaUon."     Mafifiy  for  Ms  lordship,  he  wai 

moon  after  superseded  in  the  command  'by  -general  Packenha-m* 


troops  of  i 

in  numbei 

spot  chose 

dency,  by 

ish  troops 

the  mindj 

what  the 

ihe  confid 

founded, 

by  superi 

cidental  c 

one  of  th( 

cscitemfii 

irregular 

After  s 

hazard  ar 

Chippewi 

and  fort 

pected  t€ 

Sackett*s 

by  exprc 

in».  bloc 

doreChj 

i^ppointe 

fo^s  at 

e&cumbc 

jlirigton 
Schiossc 

|pewa. 

Aboai 

I  express 

aind  wei 

heights; 

I  force  mc 

I  a  numb 

I  ly  after, 

I  ing  at  I 

ser,  an( 


*  Th 

\  hve  bi 

may  be 

Jtneric 

\fied  bej 

Rifiley 

\  ttr  beh 


HISTORY  0»  THR  >YAR. 


.151 


advices  fron 
ince  upon  tte 
e  Biitish  ett* 
ofiBonapaiiti, 
toht  cticUted 
Paris.    Eyco 

ought  not  to 
I  punishment, 
e  their  iorm 
A  tkp|>ressor.f 
se,  which  bad 
ed,  and  strea* 
iommandingpa 

i  Jby  the  nw 


btjort  we  eon 


the  eve  of  saH 
eaa3,Ae  stated 
nd  addedi  that 
f  together  nvUh 
hia  i&ince,   ht 

jrdshifi^  he  wm 

/  Packenhtm' 


.cooDS  of  America  over  the  veterans  of  Wellington,  supenpi 
n  numberTto  the  victors,*  upon  an  open  plain,  and  upon  a. 
Jcho^n  1-  the  British  general,  had  a  most  beneficial  ten- 
Scv,  by  di;^irmg  the  dre\d  which  the  prowess  ot  the  Bra- 
Sods  in  Spain  could  not  have  failed  to  have  produced  m 
;t  3s  of  tSe ir  opponents.     This  battle  was  to  the  army, 
It  the  vtctory  of  captain  Hull  had  been  to  the  navy;  atjd 
flonfidei^e  ^^       Uthus  inspired  wa.  surely  mosfc  justly 
SSndeTfo^evcny  man  felt  that  the  victory  had  been  gamed 
w  Sior  skill  and  discipline;  it  was  not  the  fruit  of  any  ac-^ 
LS  mistake  or  confu^on  in  the  army  of  the  enemj,  orof 
rof  those  movements,  of  temporary  pamc  oriomsif^.ov 
xcitement  on  the  other,  which   someUmes  give  a  victory  to 
SeS  courage  over  veteran  and  disciplined  valour. 
'Ter  sHgn^al  a  defeat,  the  British  could  not  bemduced  to 
toM  anothfr  engagement.    They  abandoned  th^ir  works  at 
Spewa,  and  burni^.  their  barracks,  retired  to  fort  Niagara 
XrOeorge,  closely  followed  by  Brown.    Here  he^ex- 
Scted  to  receive  some  heavy  guns  and  reinforcements  from 
Sett's  Harbour,  but  on  the  23d  of  July  he  received^a  letter 
Stxpr^f  fJom  general  Gaines,  advising  him  that  that  port 
i^  b^Zded  by  a  superior  British  force,  and  thai  commo. 
Z  ChauiTey  was  coined  to  his  bed  with  a  fever.  Thus  dis- 
^^in^n  his  expectations  of  being  enabled  to  reduce  the 
^ Tthe  mouth  of  the  Niagara,  Brown  deiermmed  to  dis- 
t^umber  the  army  of.  baggaic  and  march  direfy  for  Bur- 
toon  Hrights.    To  mask  this  intention,  and  to  draw  from 
Kser  a  Imall  supply  of  provisions,  he  fell  back  upon  Chip- 

^Xbout  noon  on  the  2&th,  general  Brown  was  advised  by  an 
express  from  Lewistown,  that  the  British  were  following  him, 
and  were  in  considerable    force  in  Queenstown  and  on  its 
heights;  that  four  of  the  enemy's  fleet  had  arrived  with  rein- _ 
forc^ements  at  Niagara  during  the  preceding  night,  and  that, 
a  number  of  boats  were  in  view,  movmg  up  the  "ver.    Short- 
ly  after,  intelligence  was  brought  that  the  enemy  were  land- 
ing at  Lewistown,  and  that  the  baggage  and  stores  at  Schlos- 
2,  and  on  their  way  thither,  were  in  danger  of  immediate 


*  The  BntiBh  official  accounts  state  th^  AmeHcan  forces  to 

hveb<:en  ^ufierior  in  number.     This  ap/iarent  contradtctton 

my  be  reconciled  by  observing,  that  a  f;«£'^'^,^^'"»fi^^  ^^^J*^ 

i  American  troofis  achieved  the  vUio,  y ;  ihc  vxfiUnteer^  ^^ 

\fled  befare  the  action  commenced,  while  the  hrtgadeof  geveral 

'  Ritileyhad  arrived  on  the  ground,  when  the  British  took  vhel^ 

ter  behind  their  works. 


152 


UIBTOHY    OF    I'HB  WAR. 


n 


capture,  'in  order  to  recall  the  British  from  this  object 
Brown  dete  mined  to  put  the  army  in  motion  toward  Queens- 
town,  and  ccordingly  general  Scott  was  directed  to^advaiKc 
wUh  the  first  brigade,  Towson's  artillery,  and  all  the  dragoon 
and  mounted  men,  with  orders  to  report  if  the  enemy  appear- 
ed,  and  if  necessary  to  call  for  assistance.  On  his  arrival  near 
the  falls,  Scott  learned  that  the  enemy  was  m  force  directly 
in  his  front,  a  narrow  piece  of  woods  alone  mtercepting  his 
view  of  them.  He  immediately  advanced  upon  them,  after 
dispatching  a  messenger  to  genei^l  Brown  with  this  mteiri- 

^*The  reoort  of  the  cannon  and  small  arms  reached  genewl 
Brown  before  the  messenger,  and  orders  were  mstantly  issue* 
for  eeneral  Riply  to  march  to  the  support  of  general  Scott, 
wUh  the  second  brigade  and  all  the  artillery,  and  Brown  hm- 
self  repaired  with  all  speed  to  the  scene  of  action,  whence  he 
sent  o^ers  for  general  Porter  to  advance  with  his  volOnteer, 
On  reaching  the  field  cf  battle,  general  Brown  found  th« 
Scott  had  passed  the  wood,  and  engaged  the  enemy  on  th 
Queenstown  road  and  on  the  ground  to  the  left  of  it,  with   he 
9ih.   11th,  and  22d  regiments,  and  Towson's  artillery,  the 
25th  having  been  thrown  on  the  right  to  be  governed  by_c.r. 
cumst^^f.     The  contest  was  close  and  desperate,  and  the 
AmerUan  troops,  far  inferior  in  ""•""ers    sufiered  sev«^^. 
Meanwhile  major  Jessup,  who  commanded  {»>«  2f">  «^- 
ment.  taking  advlntage  of  a  fault  committed  b|r  the   Bru^h 
commander,  by  leaving  a  road  unguarded  on  his  lett,  threi» 
himself  promptly  intoThe  rear  of  the  enemy,  where  he^was  en- 
aS  to'^opeLi  with  the  happiest  effect.     The    slaugto 
was  dreadful;   the  enemy's  line  fell  down  the  road  at  the  third 
or-fburth  fire.     The  capiure  of  general  Riall,  with  a  large  es- 
cort of  officers  of  rank,  was  part  of  the  trophies  of  Jessup', 
in'ip  dUy  and  skill;  and,  but  for  the  impression  of  an  un- 
founded renort,  under  which  he  unfortunately  remained  for  . 
frmimae'sTueutenant  general  Drummond,  *«  commander 
of  the  British  forces,  would  inevitably   have  fallen  into  his 
hands,  an  event  which  would,  in  all  probability,  have  comple- 
tlrl  the  disaster  of  the  British  army.     Drummond  was  com- 
n'etrfy  in  Je  sup's  power;  but  being  confidently  inarmed  th. 
The  fiTstbrrg^e  was  cut  in  pieces,  .nd  finding  h'mself  w.h 
less  than  200  men,  and  without  any  prospect  of  support,  in 
the  midst  of  an  overwhelming  hostile  force,  he  thought  of  no^ 
thine  for  the  moment  but  to  make  good  h,s  ^ etjeat^on^  s»^« 

his  command.     Of  this  ^'^'"V°''^;yJ'"'^""\t,^»^A'^hi\^wU 
a  the  American  column,  general  Drummond  availed  himseu 


HISIOHY  OF  THE  WAR. 


15S 


this   object 
[^8  Queens. 

to  advance 
he  dragoons 
;my  appear- 
arrival  near 
rce  directly 
•cepting  his 
them,  after 

this  inteWi- 

ibed  gertewl 
tantly  issued 
neral  Scott, 
Brown  him- 
I,  whence  he 
s  voUlnteers. 
i  found  th^t 
nemy  on  the 
'it,  with  the 
millery,  the 
;rned  by  cir- 
rate,  and  the 
•ed  severely, 
e  25th  regi- 
'the   British 
s  left,  threyl 
:e  he  was  en- 
he    slaughter 
d  at  the  thini 
Lh  a  large  es- 
>  of  Jessup's 
)n  of  an  un- 
jmained  for  a 
e  commander 
alien  into  his 
have  comple- 
nd  was  com- 
informed  that 
himself  with 
of  support,  in 
thought  of  no- 
reat)  and  save 

vailed  himself 


10  make  his  escape.     Amoti^  the  officers  captured,  was  one 
of  general  Drummond's  aids-de-camp,  who  had  been  dispatch- 
ed from  tlie  frottt  line  to  order  up  the  reserve,  with  a  view  to 
fall  on  Soott  with  the  concentrated  force  of  the  whole  army, 
and  overwhelm  him  at  a  single  effort.     Nor  would  it  have 
been  possible  to  prevent  this  catastrophe,  had  the  reserve  ar- 
rived in  time;  the  force  with  which  general  Scott  would  then 
have  been  obiiged  to  contend  being  nearly  quadruple  that  of 
his  own.     By  the  fortunate  captm'e.  however,  of  the  British 
aid-de-camp,  before  the  completion  of  the  service  on  which  he 
had  been  ordered,  the  enemy's  reserve  was  not  brought  into 
action  until  the  arrival   of  general  Ripley's  brigade,  which 
prevented  the  disaster  which  i    ist  otherwise  have  ensued.* 

Though  the  second  brigade  pressed  forward  with  the  great- 
est ardour,  the  battle  had  raged  for  an  hour  before  it  could  ar- 
rive on  the  field,  by  which  time  it  was  nearly  dark.  The  en- 
emy fellbackonits  approach.  In  order  to  disengage  the  ex- 
hausted troops  of  the  first  brigade,  the  fresh  troops  were  or- 
dered to  pass  Scott's  line,  and  display  in  front,  a  movemert 
which  was  immediately  executed  by  Ripley.  Meanwhile  the 
enemy,  being  reconnoitered,  was  found  to  have  taken  a  new 
position,  and  occupied  a  height  with  ;his  artillery,  3Upporteu  by 
a  line  of  infantry.,  which  gave  him  great  advantages,  it  bejing 


*  «  .//  trait  in  his  conduct  highly  honourable  to  colonel  Je/»su/i 
t«,  that  his  humanity  as  a  man  triumfUied  over  his    technical 
duty  as  an  officer*     Suck  nvas^for  a  time^  hia  situation  in  the 
field,  that  every  firiB&ner  he  took,  by  ivifieding  his  o/ieratiom 
against  the  ene?ny,  not  only  injured  the  cause  in  which  he  was 
engaged,  but  endangered  the  safely  of  his  own  corfis.      Ac* 
cording  to  the  canons  of  war,  therefore,  his  duty,  as  we  believe,  • 
was,  to  make  no  Prisoners,  hut  to  put  to  death  every  man  who 
might  ofifiose  hitn  in  arms.     Regardless,  however,  of  these  san- 
quinary  statutes,  and  listening  only  to  the  voice  of  mercy,  he 
^ave  quarter  to  all  that  surrendered  to  him,  although  conscious 
they  would  diminish  his  effective  force,  and  that  he  must  necessa- 
rily suffer  them  again  to  escafie.  This  conduct  was  noUcedby  tiome 
of  the  British  officers,  and  commended  as  highly  honourable  to 
the  young  American,  JHtadJessufi  been  less  humane  as  a  man,  and 
more  technically  rigid  as  an  officer,  he  might  have  acted,  as  the 
aid'de'camfi  of  general  Drummond  acknowledged,  with  more 
deadly  effect  against  the  enemy.  But  he  knew  the  road  to  glory 
bettfiT. .    TVke  faifpst  vfTeath  in  the  hero's  chatilet  is  that  whicJi 
is  entwined  by  the  hand  ofmer^y.'* — Port  Folio. 


I.  .1 


.  "history  OF  THE  WAB. 

the  key  to  the  whole  position.    To  secure  the  victoiy,  It  was 
:.';ce»i;\o  carry  his^nerya^^^^^^^^^^ 
puriiose  the  second  brigade  ^''^/P""  "P°"  ^ieh  had  Arrived 
Ld,  and  the  first  >^«gt:S\o  ne&fTh^  brigties^^^^^ 

„el  MiJler  «as  orderedtoadvance  v^ith  the  S.s^^^reg.^^ 

cam  the  artillery  on  the  height  by  the  bayone. 

regiment  gave  way  under  the  6^^°^  *\j3         galknti; 

un^daunted  by  this  """'f ,"«' ^fj^^^'^nd  ca^^^^^^^ 

to  his  object,  »"'\,^"";^ '^„"„';7j^'rt^ri^^^^  with  the  2Jd  re- 

"^ient'^uTad^^  'dlt-tefighVm^^  ""-"^  '*  '" 

fXtbuUt^aspromptl^raUied  andb^^^^^^^ 

The  enemy  being  now   ^"!f "  f  °Xnteers  and  artillery", 
ground,  the  whole  brigade,  with  the  volume  j.       ^^  ;„ 

Lu  the  first  regiment,  «b.ch  had  been  nulled,  were  ^^^^ 

line  with  the  <=^f»"^^J^'^"^:,XJZT^i^  **  25th,  the  re- 
they  were  soon  joined  ^V  J^^J"; ^'^^^f  /^^  rear  of  the  ene- 
gii^nt  that  had  acted  with  »"fJ/Xmerican  troops  withstood 
Siy's  left.    In  this  »'^uat'on  the  America  ^^^.^ 

three  distinct  desperate  '^"?''*  "^  *^Xrcem^^^^  l„  each  of 
his  bK.ken  ">^V»'^^2uZ\,'l^MTr>^»r  being  his 
them  h« ''^'^Pt'tuttoL^rf  the  men  w^re  distinctly  seen 
approach,  that  the  buttons  oitne  muskets,  and  many 

ri^rough  the  darkness  by  the  flash  of  the  ^«»^     >    .„^.    „ 
pri«,ners  7«- »«^e»  »t  the  po^^nt  of;"'^  ^»n„;Pk  general 
by  Porter's   volunteers.     """"S  '  Lw  mreserve  with  three 
.  Scott  was  ordered  up,  who  had  b""  b«>° 'nres*rire  wit 

of  his  battalions,  from  the  ^^^^^^f^l  VJXction  of 
field.  During  the  third  ^^o"  °*  *'.'"'^'^  ]"  minutes,  to 
Scott's  column  would  have  ^"'bled  him,  m  a  few  min^^  ^,^^ 

have  formed  line  in  the  >•««  »*  »f'"  X7a  flank  fire  from  a 
have  brought  him  between  t«°fi«»- J^^i^  "  „„,  of  Scott's 


HISTOKY    0»   THE   WA«. 


155 


'  .    .  miich  exhausted,  the  command  was  giren  to  general 
^r  ?n^  he  was  instructed  to  return  to  camp,  bringing  with 

rg»Te°hrr^?  tUmrfem  at  that  Ute  hour 
"''oh"e  mvtStrtprto  camp,  gcner.:.  Brown  sent 
,„easure,  ordered  h™WP«the  traces  '"        ^^^„   *;„  j^te 

'Serl  Ripley  has  been  much  blamed  for  the  non-execu. 

enemy  appeared  mfo^V't^b^^^^^  At  day- 

Stances.'      ilis  oraers,  i»^**\     »       ,     march  commenced, 
break  the  army  was  ^-TfJ-B^^^' »nd^i^^„X«w^™^^ 
when  circumstances  of  the  ^"^^If  %^  ;^"?™  ,,e  discretionary 
parent,  such  as  must  have  been  mvi 

part  of  »»>«  °'f/;^liV*e  "  w^^^^  afterward,  led  him  ' 
commenced  a"^;^«=«°,^^^Xc^    .oless  th».  1600  men,  were 
to  Tort  Erie.  ,/ ''J  "^P'' "Tneral  RipIey  towards  the  field  of 
marched  on  the  26th  by  general  "'P''',     ^  ^ut  difficulues 

noitre  the  enemy's  P5>*^^^?"»^^^^J^"S^^»  ««       ^  position, 

examination,  he  was  found   ",^^^^"f^^^°*!^^^  asserted  by 

prisoners  taken  the  Preceding  eve      g.  ^^^^^  ^^.^^ 

a  wood  on  one  ^"^t>  ^"jf^.^^^^^^^^  so  as  to  sweep 

turned  or  dmen  ^"'  ^»*  J^^^^^^^^^  he  extended  a  line  nearly 
the  road;  besides  these  ^^y^^^s*^/*'  jc^niaved  by  our  troops, 
double  in  lengj^>>  to  that  which^^^^^^^^  ^^J^^ 

To  attack  with  two-thiras  tne  loi^    ^  ,^.«anft£«  that  the  first 


an  enemy  thus  increased,  was  an  »et 


156 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


i 


thought  rejected.  The  army  was  kept  in  the  field  and  in  mo- 
tion  long  enaugh  to  be  assured  of  the  strength  and  position  of 
the  enemy;  that  information  being  confirmed,  there  remained 
but  one  course  to  prevent  that  enemy  from  impeding  a  retreat, 
which,  had  he  been  vigi^nt,  he  would  previously  have  pre- 
vented.  The  army»  therefore,  immediately  retrograded,  and 
the  retreat  received  the  sanction  of  general  Browl>,  previous 
to  his  crossing  the  Niagara.* 

The  American  official  account  states  their  loss  in  this  battle 
at  171  kitted,  572  wounded,  and   117  missing;  the  return  of 
British  prisoners  presents  an  aggregate  of  179,  including  ma- 
ior-general  Riall,  and  a  number  of  other  officers.— The  British 
«tate  their  loss  to  be  84  killed,  559  wourtded,  193  missing; 
their  loss  in  prisoners  they  stated  only  at  4L    Major-general 
3Town  and  brigadier-general  Scott  were  among  the  wounded 
of  the  Aipericans,  and  lieutenant-general  Drunlmond  and  ma- 
jor-general Riall  amowg  those  of  the  British.  _ 
.    In  consequence  of  the  wounds  of  generals  Brown  and  Scott, 
the  command  devolved  on  general  Ripley,  who  pursued  his 
retreat  across  the  Chippewa,. destroying  the  bridges  in  his  rear, 
and  throwing  every  poswble  impediment  in  the  way  of  th«  ene- 
my; in  order  to  obstruct  his  advance.    On  the  27th  of  "July, 
the  army  reached  Fort  Erie.  Here   l  was  determined  fo  make 
a  standi  and  accordingly  the  lines  of  defence  and  fortification 
were  immediately  marked  out,  and  by  the  unremitted  exertions 
of  the  army,  were  completed  on  the  Sd  of  August^  the  very  day 
of  the  arrival  of  the  enemy  before  them. 

Early  igfil^  morning,  of  the  3d  an  attcrtjpt  was  made  tc 
surprise  Bul^ioe,  with  the  intention,  it  is  supposed,  of  re-cap- 
turing genci^l  Riall,  and  other  British  prisoners  there,  and  de- 
stroying the  public  stores.     About  two  in  the  morning,  nine 
boat-loads  of  troops  were  landed  on  the  American  side,  half  a 
mile  below  Gonjocta  creek,  on  the  upper  bank  of  which,  sus- 
pecting their  intention,  major  Morgan  had  taken  a  position 
with  a  battalion  of  the  first  rifle  regiment,  consisting  qf  24© 
men.    "Here,  during  the  preceding  night,  he  had  thrown  up  a 
battery  of  a  few  logs,  and  torn  away  the  bridge.     About  four 
o'clock  the  British  costwienced  the  attack,  sending  a  party  be- 
fore to  repair  the  bridge,  under  cover  of  tbeir  fire.    So  heavy 
aiwl  deadly,  however,  was  the  fire  opened  by  the  riflemen,  that 
tiiey  were  compelled  to  retire.     They  then  formed  in  the  skirt 
©t"  the  wood,  and  kept  up  the  fight  at  long  shot,  continually  re- 


m-fr 


»  Fwt  J^oiio.  Memoir  of  major-general  Ri/iley, 


V?kt    *K 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAU# 


157 


lus  battle 
return  of 
iding  ma- 
le British 


is^nfiacU  tc 
of  re-cap- 
re,  andde- 
•niiig,  nine 
ide,  half  a 
idiicb,  sus- 
a  position 
Ling  ^f  24© 
irown  up  a 
About  four 
a  party  be- 
So  heavy 
emen,  that 
in  the  skirt 
tiinually  re- 


ley: 


inforcinc  frotn  the  Canada  shore,  until  they  had  23  boat-loads, 

len  they  auempted  to  outflank,  by  semling  a  large  body  up 

he  Lefto  forS^  it.     But  a  detachment  of  about  60  .nen  being 

the  crecK  w  lui  ,  repulsed  with  consider- 

^M  l^sf'xt  otfea  nfw  appLdng  un^ttainab.c,  the  enem, 
aole  loss.     1  «^  "  J  ^^  previously   thrown   some 

— ont^w  UXwhich  elaV  the  creeW   t,  u      - 
vVntinK  the  r  retreat  from  bcmg  hairassed.     1  heu  s«pei  « 
rSs  enabled  them  to  take  their  _woundeda„d™osU^^^^^^^^^^^ 
killed  off  the  field:  though  some  of  the  latter  were  attcrwains 
fnnd     A  number  of  muskets  and  accoutrements  .were  also 

Xctedt  anT'or  clothing  that  ^^^^^^^^^^ 
fr^fttieDurDOse  of  binding  their  wounds.     Six  British  pi  isoners 

were  takem  who  stated  their  force  to  have  consisted  of  from 
'2  to  00  men  Although  the  action  continued  for  two  horns 
.„,!,  half  the  loss  of  the  Americans  was  but  triBing— two 
kilM  and  eight  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  British  was  never 
LcertaTned,  lul  it  must  have  been  quite  disproporUoned  to 

'"on'tLe^rrWafoTS^e  British  before  Fort  Erie,  they  per- 
ceived thatTh"  opportunity  was  lost  of  carrying  the  Amencan 
"orks  by  a  touMe-mam-    Driving  in  the  pickets,  therefore, 
rev  made  a  regular  investment  of  the  place.    The  fol  ow  ng 
ay'^g^neral  Gafnes  arrived  from  Sackett's  Harbour  and  bring 
senior  in  rank  assumed  the  command.    On  the  6th,  the  rjBe 
corns  was  sent  to  endeavour  to  draw  out  the  enemy,  m  order 
to  try  hfs  sliength.     Their  orders,  were  to  pass  through  the 
ntlrvenhiK  woods,  to  amuse  the  British  Ught  troops  until  their 
St  one  co"umns  should  get  in  motion,  when  they  should  reure 
owl?  to  the  plain,  where  a  strong  line  was  posted  inreadiness 
tb  receive  the  enemy.    The  rWemen  accordmgly  met  and 
drove  the  light  troops^nto  their  lines,  but  although  they  kept 
hT^,^  nel  two  hours,  they  ^ere  not  able  to  draw  a^y  part 
of  the  enemy's  force  after  them.     The  Biitlsh  lek.  tleyen  deaa 
nd'tiireeTi-ners  in  the  hands  of  the  riaemen^Uutthe.r^.oss 
was  supposed  to  be  much  more  considerable.    Thelos.  ot  the 
riflemen  were  five  killed  and  throe  or  four  wounded. 

The  ml  camp  of  the  British  was  Pl?»ted  «to«t  t^  mile* 
distant.  In.fi-ont  of  it  they  threw  «p  a  ''««  of  part^>  c"^vm- 
vaUation,  extending  around  the  American  fortifications,  rhis 
consUted  of  two  fines  of  entrenchment,  supported  by  bioek- 
taserm  front  of  these,  at  favourable  points,  batteries  were 
erected,  one  of  which  enfiladed  the  American  works.  _ 

The  American  position  was  on  the  margm  of  l»ke  Erie,  at 
the  entrance  of  the  Niagaia  ciVcr,  a.,  .tcany  a  iiaviaui"==  ^-'^ 

o  2 


■  ^^fi 


ia» 


!*KilOHV  Of  THE  WAR. 


!!■■ 


twelve  or  fiftcMi  feet  above  the  surface  of  the  water,  possess- 
iiiK  few  natural  advantages,   it  had  been  strengthened  infrom 
by  temporary  parapet  breast-works,  e'«'«"^''«'*'?°t2^??L': 
with  two  batterie.  and  six  fold  pieces.     The  smaU  unlfisnislhefl 
fort,  Erie,  with  a  24,  18,  and  12  pounder,  formed  the  north- 
east,  and  the  Douglass  battery,  with  an  16  and  6  pounder  ne« 
the  edge  of  the  lake,  the  south-east  angle  t,n  the  "^;-    m 
left  was  defended  by  a  redoubt  battery  with  six  field^*"'- 
ustZown  up  on  a  small  ridge.    The  ,ear  w.sleft  open  to 
tb^  Jake,  bordered  by  a  rocky  shore  of  easv  ascent.     The  bat. 
terv  on  the  left  was  defended  by  captain  Towsodj  Tort  Ene 
bv  captain  Williams,  with  major  Trimble's  command^of  the 
19th1^mtry;  the  batteries  on  the  front  by  captains  Biddlc  and 
Fann  ngi  the  whole  of  the   artillery  <=o«''"»««^„^y  mapr 
Hindman.     Parts  of  the   1 1th,  9ih,  and  82d  infantry,  weie 
S  Oh  the  right  under  the  command  of  lieutenam-j^olone 
Wnwall.    OeiSral  Ripley's  brigade,  consisting  of  the  21« 
anT23dt .!»-fended  the  left.  'General  Porter'sJ^ngade  of  Nevr 
York  and  Pennsylvwiia  yplunteers,  with  the  liHemen,  occupied 

""l^r^ngthe  13th  and  14th,  the  enemy  kept  up  a  brisk  can- 
tvonade,  which  was  sharply  returned  fiwm  the  American  batie- 
X!  * Urout^ny  considinible  loss.    One  of  the  r  shelis  lodged 
iivsmafl  magime,  in  Fort  Erie,  which  *vas  almost  empty.- 
It  blew  UP™  ifh  an  explosion  more  awful  in  appearmce  thai, 
,iurir«sy  i  s  effect.,^as  it  did  not  disable  »«•'«»  »';f!™»f 
aiun     A  momentary  cessation  of  the  ibundere  of  the  anil- 
tew  took  pTac?  on  both  sides.    This  was  followed  by  a  loud 
'^Kus  shout  by  the  «rhish  army,  which  "a.  in^^^'y  «; 
tunredisn  the  part  of  the  Americans,  who,  amidst  the  smoke 
S™e  ^ptesim.,  reiiewed^lbe  so^estby  an  animated  roar^rf 

*J?*FS^'s"^'p"sed  loss  of  amr,.v.dtion  and  the  consequent 

depres^^on^--^^'*^'^**"**"^  ">'•■'  ^° ?r^"r.',S':^^^v  C 
felt  persuaded  that  this  e*ptesion  «<'«'<> '.**t"«^"^\*^. 
™nlt.  and  made  his  arrangci  -aiU^ccordingly.    There  susg^ 
dons  were  fully  verified,  by  an  «^ck  that  was  made  m  the 
niffht between  the  1 4th  and  H'vk  OS  »uga»t.  ,.„^ 

*¥heS^ht  *a«  dark,  and  fl,e^«»-5),^artof  .training,  bin  nc- 
veiSf  one  third^f  the  troc;  .fere  kept  at  their  pflifta- 
^Kartwo  o'clock,  tberfef't^Coltimn  of  the  ene«y  ay- 
.m/  md  thoneh  enveloped  in  darkness,  was  distinctly 
?':°!?!?'. J*.  aISv^X and  promptly  warke^bythe m«»- 
^i;«rv"nnder  maior' Wood  ani  captMii  ToWson.    SJeiBg  motnii- 


the  Hvuw 
column  !< 

of  the  in 
0t^ly  irft< 
round  tl 
ibrea^t  d 


1^  m 


HfStetiV  0¥  IH-lii  vrA-*.«r 


4'^9 


biisk  can* 
'icaii  batte- 
ells  lodged 
ft  empty.— 
ir«nce  than 
or  derange 
>f  the  arlil* 
d  by  a  loud 
nstaritly  re- 
;  the  smoke 
ated  roar  Off 

cotisequent 
leral  Games 
jnettiy  to  aii- 
'bese  susj)!- 
made  in  the 

ting,  bittw- 
fieir  pw^ls.'— 
«  enewty  aj)- 
«isdisthictly 
I'bythcttiiiS' 
jeing  inotiiit- 
rtt  m  attarU, 


„l^fe  the  sheets  fire  rolling  from  Towsbn's  battery,  and 
Tul  Lsq^try  of  the  left  ^v>^g,  enabled  him  t<. see  t^^^my^s 
oirnTeb^«t  1500  men  alproaching  o»^^at:potnl; 'hU  ad. 
vice  was  itet  clYecfced  until  it  bud  approached  wtthm  ten  fe^t 
nftheSS.  A4ineof  loose  biusfe,  repfesentlBg^nabattis, 
IvUerv^d;  a  column  dF  the  eneiuy  awempied  to  pajs 
^  ^  ir!I  twtu   thmuch  the  water,  ^Kere  it  was  tieariy 

S^B^^^iered  a  det&chment  df  rifleWfen  ^«f  *»f«»»jry  ^to^i^ 
tuppon;  but  at  tbis  momem  tA>e^enemy^re  lieptdsed  rhey 
Sntlv  renewed  the  charge,  and  were  again  dnv€«i  >back.^ 

On  the  rTeht,  the  fire  of  cannon  and  niusqUe^y  ani«>imced 
ihf  annr^a^h  of  the  cemre  and  left  columns  of  tihe  enemy,  un- 

t  To&  SrLmond  and  Soott.    ^»-  ^f  ^Tair^^^^^^ 

S  Pepu4«ed%  the  9th,  tinder  tbecontiiiand  of  capt^n.^c^ten 

uS  captains  Biuglrton  and  Harding's  companies  of  New  York 

aBd  pLnsyWania  volunteers,  aided  by  a  siK-pounder,  judi- 

ciously  posted  by  major  M'Kee,  chief  engmeev.  _^ 

Tut  &  cemve,  lid  by  colonel  O^^^'-^^t^b^e  ^2^^^ 
kCDt  in  check;  it  approuohed  at  once  every  assailable  fomtot 
S4t  a^r^itlsciiin^.laddevs  ascended  the  parapet  where, 

r.I  twTceJ^^^^^  andas  often  <.hecked;  btit  the  .nemy  hav- 
Wi^^dXhdii  thedii^^^ 

b^r^avrcloud  of  smoke  which 4.ad  «^ii-^^  f»^«\  ^^  Td" 
laHd^nu/ouetry,  repeated  ^^^ -^»-^g^|  ^"^^^^e^^^^^^^ 
(lers,  and  with  their  pikes,  bayonets  and  spears  teU  "P0»  we 
Ameiranarti^leiiste,««cl  succeeded  in  c^pt«ri«g  the  bustion. 
bSant  M.Do^ough  bei.^  se^ei^ly  weunded,  demanded 
Sen    It  was  refused  4,y  colohel  Dm^mond.     ^^^ 
Sm  then  Z\^  a  handspike,  and  nobly  defended  InmseU 
u^rhlVas  sbot  down  with  a  pistol  by  ^h«  monster  who  had 
Sed  him  -qu^ner,  who  often  reiterated  tbe  order--"  %wc 
hi  dlnerYarees  no  quarter  »  ^hisofficer,  whose  bravery, 
it  haTbeen  seasoned  with  virtue,  wo»^ld  h^ve  entitled  hmi  to 
I  ^atoirXbf  every  ^oWlej^this  hardened  tmi^^^^^^ 
met-tusf^e.    He  >vas  ^hot  through  ifee  bi^«»st  while  repeat 

u>g  the  order  <*  to  give  no  qaartcr."  ^^^^rv^eiv  the  tilrht 

l>e^efal  gallant  atte^P^*  ^«t^  ^^^^«.  ^^r?,^?^^^^ 
hastion   but  all  proved  unsuccessful.     At  this  moment  every 

deposits*  W  tfce«..^tif  'tl«>  «lo      ''*»'*''«^^)°f:"?rei^" 

.i.ai^^.i^j.  ,„!»». ,e>i«>»*<H«r  the  Bieht  ef  the  British.     At  ims 
m^S'Tapt^iiTMd,;  wa»  ordered  to  ca«B«  «*ei«.pi«»  *" 


lao 


HISTORY  o/tHB  tVAB. 


i\ 


be  ptosted  so  as  to  enfilade  the  exterior  plain  and  salient  glacis. 
Though  not  recovered  from  a  severe  contusion  m  the  shoulder, 
reeled  from  on.  of  the  enemy's  shells,  Biddle  promptly 
took  bis  posiUon^  and  served  his  fie  d-piecc  with  vivacity  and 
effect.  C^Tptain  Fanning's  battery  likewise  played  upon  them 
at  this  dme  with  great  effect.  The  enemy  were  m  a  few  mo- 
ments  entirely  defeated,  taken,  or  put  to  flight,  leaving  on  he 
field  221  killed,  174  wounded,  and  1^6  prisoners,  mcludingU 
Officers  killed ^nd  7  wounded  and  prisoners.  'A large  portion 
we^  severely  wounded;  the  sUghtly  wounded,  it  is  presumed, 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  during  the  assault  was  seventeen 
killed,  fifty-six  wounded,  and  eleven  missing.    The  British 
.acknowled'ge  only  57  killed,  309  wouridea,  and  539  missing  " 
During  thi  preceding  bombardment,  the  loss  of  the  Ameri- 
cans was  7  killed,  19  Severely  and  17  slightly  ^o^^^f  f '  ^  J^^J 
loss  of  the  British  is  not  mentioned  m  their  official  account 
This  bombardment  commenced  at  sun-rise  on  thf  morning  ot 
the  1 3th,  and  continued  without  mtermission  till  8  o  clock, 
P  M-fr^conim^^ncedon  the  Uth,  at  day-l  ght,  with  mcreased 
warmth,  and  did  not  end  until  an  hour  before  the  commence- 
ment  of  the  assault  on  the  morning  of  the  15th. 

During  the  night  preceding  the  co'  i^nencement  of  the  bom- 
baidmen?  of  Pon  Erie,  an  unfortunate  affair  for  the  American 
arms  took  place  on  the  lake,  just  behmd  the  fort,  in  ^esu. 
prise  and  capture  of  two  schooners,  by  a  number  of  boats  full 
of  British  soldiers.  On  the  boats  being  hai  ed,  they  ans>vered 
«  pn>v^on  boats,"  a  manoeuvre  which  deceived  the  American 
officers,  as  boats  from  the  fort  had  been  m  the  habit  of  passing 
Td  repassing  through  the  night.  The  force  being  overwhelm. 
Ca«5  the  surprise  complete,  but  little  effectnal  resistance 
was  made,  ^nd  the  enterprise  was  completelv  successful.  Th^^ 
Americans  had  one  killed  and  nme  wounded.  The  loss  9t  the 
assailants  was  more  considerable.  ^„^^i  rUn^^ 

A  short  time  after  the  assault  on  Fort  Erie,  general  Games 
received  a  serious  wound  from  the  bursting  of  a  sheH,J>y 

which  means  the  co^imand  o»<^^  "^^^^  ,<^^\°\^*^^^^^ 
Ripley,  till  the  2d  of  September,  wh^n  the  state  of  bis  health 
allowed  general  Browiv  again  to  place  himself  j^|  ^m^^vi 

^iC^poo^s-in  Fort  Erie  began  now  to  be.generaUr^"^- 

dered  as  in  i  critical  situation,  and  'n^J^^,^^^^*^^^^/^,^.  ^,rv 
_  i.^j  f-_  .u«  f-*-  ^f  ♦he  arnvv  that  had  thi-owa  SO  much  glory 

of  superbr  force,  whose  numbers  were  coima^jly  leceivinj, 


HISTORY    or    THE  WAR. 


Ul 


Lent  glacis. 
5  shoulder, 
promptly 
ivacity  and 
upon  them 
I  a  few  mo- 
ving on  lie 
tcluding  U 
pgc  portion 
presumed, 


of  the  bom- 
e  American 
,  in  the  sur- 
of  boats  full 
ey  ans>vered 
e  American 
it  of  passing 
overw'helro- 
il  resistance 
essful.  Th& 
lelosf  9^  t;he 

neral  Gaines 
'  a  shell,  by 
d  on  general 
of  his  health 

icraUy  consi- 
i«Ie  to  be  ex- 
)  much  glory 
by  an  enemy 
tly  receiving 


eickUtions,  and  whose  batteries  were  every  day  becoming  more 
formidable,  while  a  river  of  difficult  passage  lay  on  their  rear. 
Heinforcements  were  ordered  on  from  Champlain,  but  they 
were  yet  far  distant.  But  ihe  genius  of  Brown  ^y as  fully  equal 
To  the' contingency,  and  the  difficulties  with  which  he  was  en- 
vironed served  only  to  add  to  the  number  of  his  laui^els. 

Thou  eh  frequent  skirmishes  occun-ed  about  this^period,  m 
which  individual  gallantry  was  amply  displayed,  yet  no  event 
If  material  consequence  took  place  till  the  mh  of  September, 
when  having  suffered  much  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy  s  bat- 
teiies,  and  aware  that  a  new  one  was  about  to  be  opened,  gene- 
ral Browa  resolved  on  a  sortie  in  arder  to  effect  their  destpuc 
tion  The  British  infantry  at  this  time  consisted  ot  three 
brigades,  of  12  or  1500  men  each,  one  of  which  was  stationed 
at  the  works  in  front  of  Fort  Erie,  the  other  two  occupied  their 
camp  behind.  Brown's  intention  therefore  was,  to  storni  the 
batteries,  destroy  the  cannon,  and  roughly  ^handle  the  brigade 
upon  duty,    before  those  in  reserve  could  be  brought  into 

''on  the  morning  of  the  irth,  the  infantry  and  riflemen,  regu- 
lars and  militia,   were  ordered  to  be  paraded  and  put  m  readi- 
ness  to  march  precisely  at  12  o^elock.    General  Porter  with 
the  volunteers,  colonel  Gibson  with  the  riijemen,  and  fliaj^^ 
Brooks  with  the  23d  and  1st  infauUy,  and  a  few  dragoons  act- 
ing as  infantry,  were  ordered  to  mave  from  the  extreme  left 
upon  the  enemy's  right,  by  a  passage  opened  Uirough  the  woods 
teV  the  occasion.     General  Miller ^was  ^^^^^'^^^^^'^^^ 
command  in  the  ravine  between  Fort  Erie  and  the,  enemy  s 
batteries,  by  passing  them  by  detachment  through  the  kkirts 
ofthe  wL^id  the  31st  infantry  under  general , Ripley  was 
posted  as,  a  corps  of  reserve  between  the  new  bastions  of  Fort 
Erie-all  under  cover,  and  out  of  the  view  of  the  eaemy. 
,  The   left  column,  undt^r  the  command  of  general  Porter, 
which  was  destined  to  turn  the  enemy's  right,  havmg  awived 
near  the  British  entrenchments,  were  ordered  to  advance  «id 
com^uerxe  the  action. ,   Passing  down  theravme,  Brow»  }i^ 

ed  from  the  report  of  the  musquetry  t*>^V  mu  f  L  SL^ 
menced.  Hastening,  therefore,  to  general  Miller,  he  directed 
himtosei^e  the  moment,  and  pierce  the  enemy's  entrench- 
nlens  between  the  batterie.  No  2  and  3.  ^  These  orders  were 
promptly  and  ably  executed.  Withm  30  ramutes  after  the 
first  gC  was  fired,  batteries  No.  3  and  3,  the  enemy's  line  ot 
-trlchmemts,  and  his  two  block-houses,  were  m  possession 

°  sron\fter!*b^^^^^^  wasa*bandoned  bythelJritish.^Xhe 


1 '  M 


,g2  msTOKY  OF  TBI  WAR. 

Kum  •■.,  each  were  then  spiked  or  otherwise  dest-oyed,  andtke 
n-aaaune  of  No.  3  was  blown  up.     _ 

A  few  minutes  before  the  explosion,  the  reserve   had  teen 
ordereluTunder  general  Ripley,  and  as .  -on  as  he  arrived  ™ 
the  «ot^d,  he  w     .5.dc.cd  ,o  strengthen  the  front  Une,  which 
was^herengaged  with  the  enemy,  in  order  to  protect  the  d.. 
Ichments    et^Ployed  in    demolishinfe   the  captured  woiU 
WWrforming  arrangenicnts  for  acting  on  the  enemy's  camp 
durine  ihe  moment  o?  panic,  Ripley  received  a  severe  wound. 
Ev   tSisttJ^,  however,  the  objec-.  of  the  sortie  being  accom- 
oUshed  Cond    the  tliost    sanguine  expectauons,    generji 
Mller  had  o^ered  the  troops  on  the  right  to  fal  back,  and, 
observing  thTs  movement.  Brown  se..t  his  staff  along  the  line 
to  c^  ill  the  other  corps.     Within  a  few  mmutes  they  retired 
from  the  ravine,  and  thence  to  the  camp.  , 

TV..,.  »av«  treneral  Brown,  m  his  diL.^atch,  looo  rei  uais 
„Jan  equafp^rtion  of  milida,  in  one  hour  of  cl^e  aC.on, 
blastJd  the  hones  of  the  enemy,  destroyed  the  fruits  of  % 
d!^s>  isbour.  S^d  diminished  his  effective  fo«=e  1000  men  « 

'*^n"their  ofF.cUl  account  of  this  sortie,  the  British  published 

nn  returns"  fuTeir  lo.  .  but  from  their  vigorous  resistance* 

™u«  no  doubrhave  been  very  great..    Their  lo.    in  r,nsonen 

was  385     On  the  part  of  the  Americans  the  killed  a.-.-nntec 

^83  the  wounded  to  316,  and  the  missing  to  a  like  number 

A  few  dwt  after  this  battle  the  British  raised  th  •-  siege,  and 

vettated  behfnd  the  Chippewa.    Meanwhile  the  reinforce. 

mentt  from  Platisb,  vg__arri'ved  at  Sackerf,  H*lhour^^^»*^^ 

a  few  davs  rest  proceeded  to  the  Niagara.  They  eiossed  tna 

riveTonW  ninth  of  October,  when  general!  za^d,  being  die 

^"nlor  officer,  superceded  fn-al  Brown  m  the  comma  i 

On  the  Uth  the  army  laoved  from  Fort  Eri^ ,  \'^  .th  ttve  aesign 

d?br  Ling  the  enemy  to  action.    An  attempt  waft  made  t 

diVoute  thlpassaee  of  a  creek  at  Chippewa  plains,  but  the 

SLn  :rK^oon  compelleu  the  enemy  to  retire  to  th.r 

fortified  camp,  when  attempts  weu- repc  i^djy  made  to  draw 

them  out  the  following  day,  but  ^^^thout^f  ^t*   .^P^J^l-' 
gagement  took  plac©  on  tbei  mb,  which  closed  the  campaign 

GeneS  Bissell  m-rched  from  Black  Creek  on  the  n^rnmj 
„f  tiu.  18th  with  a  dv  of  about  900  men,  for  the  purpose 
^J^^.i'r'Lmrt^ovisfon,  intei.  led  for  the  British  troops. 
Mi^i^ms  before  them  a  picket,  of  «h.ch  they  maae  tr» 
Vomm.adin|officer  prisoner,  they  «?""?«■*/»' ^^°!e'i''„" 
the  coui  e  of  which  the  advanced  picket  was  atta.  i«d  by  two 


cotnpanie 

ith  loss. 

about  12< 

The  ligh 

fifteen  m 

troops  wi 

The  51 

skirt  the 

I4th,  un< 

the  supp 

were  ore 

well-dii€ 

soon  con 

that  his 

utmost  < 

ersbelsU 

from  the 

the  groi 

soon  aft< 

that  the^ 

ty  of  gr 

few  soU 

the  groi 

wounde 

12  wert 

Befoi 

to  men 

Hci.^ht 
eral  Dr 
be  mad 
The 
ky  volw 
ofOctc 
ment  r 
Thisc 
tie  ar 
the  lal 
someti 
swam] 
secrec 
waser 
emy's 
was  a 
On 


HISTORY  ©r  THE  WAR. 


163 


companies  of  the  Glengar,  light  infantry,  who  were  repulsed 
•S  loss.    Next  morning  Bissell  was  attacked  by  a     >rpsof 
fit  1200  men,  commanded  by   the  marquis  of  Tweedale. 
The  liKht  corps  and  riflemen  susuined  the  whole  fire  for   '>out 
Jfteen  minutes,  with  the  greatest  gallantry,  until  the  other 
trooDS  were  formed,  and  brought  to   heir  support, 
^he  5th  regiment,  under  colonel  Pinckney,  was  ordered  to 
Jrt?he  woods  and  turn  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy;  the 
14  h  under  major  Bernard,  to  form  in   front,  and  advance  to 
h   support  of  the  light  troops;  the  15th  and  16th  regiments 
were  ordered  to  act  as  circumstances  might  require.    The 
wel-daected  fire  of  the  light  corps,  and  the  charge  of  the  Utft, 
Toon  compelled  the  enemy  to  give  ground;  and  on  discovenng 
haUis  richt  flank  was  turned  by  the  5th,  he  retreated  in  the 
'utmost  confusion,  leaving  some  killed,  mounded,  and  prison- 
erTbe    nd.     Bissell  pursued  them  to  a  ravmc,  some  distance 
^m  the  scene  where^he  action  commenced     Not  know»„, 
tlTeround,  he  did  not  think  proper  to  push  them  further,  but 
KeMhe  country  being  reconnoit^red,  it  was  d^^^^^^^^^^ 
that  ther  had  retreated  to  their  strong  holds.     A  large  quanti 
tv  of  erain  was  found  and  destroyed;   and,  after  burying  the 
Lv  sLtrrwho  fell,  and  the  enemy's  dead  who  were  Ic^t  on 
the  ground,  the  detachment  returned  to  camp.    1 1  "  «;J"«°^ 
wounded%;d  missing  m  this  a  air  amounted  to  67,    fwhom 

^^BXetalng  the  affairs  on  tnis  frontier,  it  wiU  be  W 
to  mention  the^xpedition  of  mounted  men  ^^^^^^^^^^ 
M'  ^   thur,  which  proceeded  from  Detroit  towaids  Burlington 

He.,hts,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  '^^^^^'^^^^JT, 
eral  Drunimond's  arn.y,  and  parahsmg  any  eff^orts  which  might 
be  made  against  Detroit  during  the  winter.  venlac- 

The  detachment,  consisting  of  about  720  Ohi.   and  J^enUc 
kv  volunteers,  and  a  few  Indians,  left  Detroit  about  the  end 
6fOc^^^^^^^^  the  object  of  the  expedition,  a  mave- 

^Sf^d  iZ  St  Clair  wai  rendered  a^e^-^- 
This  circ.it  caused  the  troops  to  be  exposed  to  J^^y^J/^^^^ 

tie    and  hardships  i"     ^^"5  ^^^^^  ^  n  3  r^^^^^^^^^ 
thr  lake-  in  the  passat    of  several  deep  and  rapm  nvers, 
LeamUwithou?boats,andon  all  occasions   encountenng 
TwTmpsjyet  notwithstanding  these  obstades,  such  J^^^^ 
secrecy  and   apicUty  of  the  expedition,  that  ^^^  «^*^^^^^^ 
was  enabled  .o  enter  the  town  of  Oxfb  d,  140  miles  in  tne  en 
was  cnaoict-  ^*^      „__    .»  .  •.u-i.:*-^*^  «,««e  ar»T>i*ise4thataforce 
emy's  country,  ui>ivk  e  tiit  iuiiauivaij--=  ..  -  =      r*  — 

™  OnTheTu,x"fding  day,  the  detachment  proceeded  to  Bur- 


pit 

*5  i 


I 


U4 


UtSTOUY  OF  THt  WAR. 


ford,  where  the  militia  had  been  embodied  in  ex  pecialionot 
this  expedition;  but  it  was  found  that  they  had  retreated,  a  few 
hours  before,  to  Malcolm's  mills,  where  they  were  joined  by 
the  militia  from  Long  Point.  i  «.     ^ 

It  was  M* Arthur's  intention  to  cross  Grand  River,  as  soon 
as  possible,  without  regarding  the  militia  collected  at  Malcolm's 
mills,  and  attack  Burlington.     But  to  his  great  mortification, 
the  river  was  found  high   and  rapid  from  the  late  excessm 
rains.     Here  also  the  news  reached  him   that  the  American 
troops  had  re-crossed  the  Niagara,  leaving  only  a  strong  garn- 
son  in  Fort  Erie.     These  and  other  considerations  presented 
serious  objections  to   any  attempt  to  pass  the  nver;  it  was 
therefore  determined  to  attack  and  defeat,  or  disperse    ^e  mih- 
tia  at  Malcolm's  mills  move  down  the  Long  Pomt  road  through 
the  Grand  River  settlement,  destroy  the  valuable  mills  m  that 
quarter,  and  then  teturn  to  the  American  territory,  either  by  a 
movement  across  Grand  River  at  the  mouth,  to  Fort  Erie,  or 
alonff  Talbot-street  to  the  Thames.  . 

To  that  effect,  a  detachment  was  directed  to  remain  and  en- 
Raee  the   attention  of  the  enemy,  whilst  the  principle   force 
Ihmild  be  withdrawn  and  marched  to  Malcolm  s  mills.      1  he 
enemy,  consisting  of  four  or  five  hundred  militia  and  a  few  In- 
dians,  was  found  fortified  on  commandmg   ground  beyond  a 
creek,  deep  and  difficult  of  passage,  except  at  a  bridge  imme. 
diately  in  front  of  their  works,  which  had  been  destroyed.  Ar- 
rangements  were  made  for  a  joint  attacked  on  the  fort  and  rear. 
The  Ohio  troops,  with  the  advance  guard  and  Indians,  wereac- 
cordinely  thrown  across  the  creek  under  cover  of  a  thick  wood, 
to  app«)rch  the  enemy  in  rear,  whilst  the  Kentucky  troops 
were  to  attack  in  front,  as  soon  as  the  attention  of  the  enemy 
was  engaged  by  the  attack  in  the  rear.     The  enemy  would 
have  been  completely  surprised  and  captured,  nad  not  an  un- 
fortunate  yell  by  the  Indians  announced  the  approach  ot  the 
detachment  destined  to  attack  their  rear,  they  .yere,^  how  ever, 
defeated  and  dUpersed,  with  the  loss,  m  the  skirmishes  on  that 
day,  of  one  captain  and  seventeen  privates  killed,  nine  privates 
wounded,  and  three  captains,  fiv^  subalterns,  and  one  hundred 
and  three  privates  made  prisonevs;  whilst  the  loss  of  the  Ame- 
ricans  was  only  one  killed  and  s.ix  wounded.  Early  next  morn- 
ins  the  enemy  were  pursued  on  the  road  to  Dover,  many  made 
pi!soners,  and  five  valuable  nuUsdestroj^ed.^^  .„_,,.,.„  ,He 

Appi'ehensivc  limt  i"t;  itv»up-  •-'^-«"-  ""-   ---  -  rr-;    -    " 
route  to  Fort  Erie,  and  that  difficulties  would  occur  m  the  pas- 
sage of  Grand  River,  together  with  the  uncertainty  which  ex- 
isted as  to  the  position  of  general  Izard's  army,  M'Arthur  was 


MlsraRY  OF  THE  WAR- 


165 


IS,  wercac- 
thick  wood, 
iicky  troops 
'  the  enemy 
lemy  would 
i  not  an  un- 
aach  of  the 
e,  however, 
ishes  on  that 
line  privates 
me  hundred 
of  the  Ame- 
^  next  morn* 
,  naany  made 


the 
ir  in  tlje  pas- 
ty which  ex- 

I'Arthur  was 


induced  to  return  to  Detroit  by  the  way  of  Talbot. street  and 
the  Thames,  which  was  happily  effected  on  the  irth  of  No- 

""^Thus  this  active  body  of  men  penetrated  two  hundred  miles 
into  the  enemy's  territory,  destroyed  two  hundred  stand  of 
ams,  together  with  five  of  their  most  valuable  mills;  paro  ed 
or  dispersed  the  greater  portion  of  the  efficient  militia  of  that 
nart  of  Upper  Canada  west  of  Grand  River;  and  then  return- 
ed in  safety  to  Detroit,  with  the  loss  of  only  one  man. 

Meanwhile,  the  approach  of  winter  rendermg  it  necessary 
for  the  army  to  retire  to  comfortable  quarters,  general  Izard 
crossed  the  major  part  of  his  troops  into  the  American  tern- 
tory,  leaving  a  garrison  in  Eric,  which  also  was  soon  after 

""Xhu^^^^^^        a  third  campaign  in  Upper  Canada  without  a 

single  important  conquest  being  secured.     The  operations  of 

he  army  under  Brown,  however,  are  not  to  be  considered  as 

worS  and  inefficient.     They  have,  in  the  most  coniple  e 

manner,  effaced  the  stain  thrown  on  the  army  by  the  imbecile 

Xrts  of  its  infancy,  and  have  cast  a  lustre  on  the  American 

name,  by  a  series  of  the  most  brilliant  vietones,  over  troops 

he^etifore  considered  matchless.     Nor  ought  we  to  lose  sight 

of  the  effect  produced  by  these  events  on  the  country  at  large, 

act  vely  engaged  as  was  almost  every  citizen,  m  repeHmg,  or 

L  preparini  to  repel,  the  invaders  of  their  homes.     This  ef- 

iec^wC"^fthout  doubt  extensively  beneficial;  and  pe^aps  it 

may  not  be  improper  to  ascribe  to  Brown  and  his  gallant  com^ 

nanions  in  arms  a  part  of  that  renown  which  the  arms  of  the 

•  United  Spates  have  acquired  by  the  defeat,  in  almost  every 

instance,  of  the  powerful  forces  with  which  it  has  been  as^ 

"^Th;  British  squadron  in  the  Chesapeake,  under  admiral 
Cockburn,  still  contined  their  system  of  plunder  and  devasta- 
^on  alonff  the  coasts  of  the  bay,  and  the  niimerous  rivers  ot 
wh"ch  it^forms  the  estuary.  The  principal,  if  not  the  on  y 
mal  protection  to  this  exposed  coast,  consisted  of  the  flotilla 
under  commodore  Barney,  but  this  presented  but  a  very  im- 
nerfect  orotection  to  this  extensive  line  ot  trontier. 
^  On  he  Tst  of  June,  the  flotilla,  making  sail  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Patuxent,  with  the  wind  from  the  northward,  discovered 
two  of  the  enemy's  schooners  down  the  bay.  The  schooners 
made  signals  and  fired  guns;  when  a  large  shig  was  seen  get- 
ting under  way,  which  dispatched  a  iiumD€i  «.  uarg..  vu  ir.c 
Stance  of  the  schooners.  Unfortunately  at  his  ime  the 
wind  shifted,  which  brought  the  ship  to  windward,  and  barney 


%  >■ 


i'JG 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


Avas  tlus   forced  to  put  back  into  the  Patuxent,  whither  he 
uas  followed  by  a  seventy-four,  three  schooners,  and  seven 
barccs,  with  a  fresh  wind.     But  the  gun-boats  being  i-,  the 
rear,  particularly  one  which  was  laden  with  provisions,  I  i.rney 
soon  found  it  necessary  to  hazard  an  engagement  to  pvevent 
iheir  capture.     Accordingly,  bringing  his  sloop  and  one  of  ihe 
p'un-boals  to  an  anchor,  he  sent  men  on  board  of  the  provision 
boat  to  assist  in  bringing  her  in,  and  made  signals  for  his 
bari>-es  to  return  and  join  him.     At  this  moment  his  sloop  and 
vrun*boat  opened  a  fire  on  a  schooner  of  the  enemy,  which  waa 
leading   in  with  a  lumber  of  barges.     She  immediately  bore 
up,  and  got  her  boats  ahead  to  tow  her  oft    seeing  which,  the 
American  barges  rowed  down  upon  her  anu  the  other  schoon- 
ers, and  gave  them  a  number  of  shot  at  long  distance.     But 
tlie  chase  was  soon  given  up,  and  the  flotilla  returned  to  port. 
During  the  firing,  a  British  barge  threw  a  number  of  rockets, 
which  did  no  execution. 

On  the  8th,  the  enemy  being  reinforced  with  a  razee  and  a 
sloop  of  war  brig,  the  floiilla  moved  up  the  Patuxent  to  the 
mouth  of  St.  Leonard's  creek,  and  on  being  followed  by  the 
British  squadron,  they  moved  up  the  creek  about  two  miles, 
and  moored  in  line,  abreast,  across  the  channel,  where  they 
prepared  for  action.     The  creek  not  being  accessable  to  ships, 
the  barges  of  the  enemy,  fifteen  in  number,  were  dispatched 
atrainst  the  flotilla.    As  they  approached,  they  advanced  a  rock- 
ct-barge,  at  which  several  shot  were  fired  by  the  flotilla,  but 
ihey  tell  short,  as  rockets  can  be  thrown  a  greater  distance 
than  shot.     Barney  therefore  got  his  barges,  thirteen  in  num- 
bcr,  under  weigh,  and  leaving  the  sloop  and  gun-boats  at  an- 
chor, they  rowed  down  upon  the  enemy,  who  precipitately  fled 
from  their  position.     The  pursuit  was  continued  till  the  flotilla 
came  near  the  enemy's  shipping,  when,  after  firing  a  few  shot 
the  American  barges  returned  to  their  moorings.     In  the  at- 
tf  rnoon^  the  British  barges  again  came  up,  again  threw  rock- 
ets, and  were  again  pursued  out  of  the  creek. 

During  these  encounters,  the  British  are  said  to  have  sut- 
fercd  considerably.  The  large  schooner  was  i.carly  destroyed, 
having  several  shot  through  her  at  the  water's  edge;  her  deck 
'orn  up,  gun  dismounted,  and  mainmast  nearly  cut  oft  about 
haif  wuy  up,  and  otlierwise  much  cut.  They  ran  her  ashore 
10  prevent  her  sinking.  The  commodore's  boat  was  cut  in 
wvo;  a  shot  went  through  the  rocket-boat;  one  oJ  the  sma  I 
-^ch^yoners,  cairying  two  thirty-two  pounders,  had  a  shot  which 
idked  iier  from  aft  forward.  The  btuLs  geherally  suffered,  but 
afLir  iot-b  Wiib  noi  abceriaintd.  •  _ 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


16: 


On  the  15th,  the  enemy  having  received  further  reinforce^. 

attack  being  made  on  any  important  point  by  the  enemy  s 
forces  in  thf  Chesapeake/  But  towards  the  end  of  June,  cer- 
Tintel  ieence  was  received  of  the  complete  success  of  the 
ames"n  hlsubjugation  of  France,  and  government  were  led 
frhPl  eve  as  well  from  communicaaons  received  from  out 
™i,'t teisV^ad,  "s  from  the  tone  of  the  British  pn«Mhat^ 
Mwerful  force  was  about  to  be  sent  to  the  United  States.  A 
S  of  ^nsiderations  pointed  to  Washmgton  City  and  Bal- 

X;:di^U  mra"urt':f1.elncrhad  therefore  become  ne- 
Immediate  "i^«^^"[^;  military  district  was  created, 

to  detacn  a""  ""'"  '  ^  .  ...nuisUion,  2000  effectives  from  the 
S7f  Cg  nia;  5000  f  omTat  of  Pennsylvania;  6000,  the 
whole  auota  of  Maryland;  and  2000,  the  estimated  number  ol 
The  miStU  of  thrOiltrict  of  Columbia,  were  P"t  »*  the  dispo- 

sltion  of  eeneral  Winder,  making  an  aggregate  of  '?'000'J' 
sition  oi  S"""'"  "      ,„',,,.,      But  this  force,  which  had  it 
elusive  o?  about  1000  regu  a.  s.     H  ^^^  ^^^,^^         ^^^.^^^_ 

been  ^''""'^eam^^'ave  been  amply  sufficient  for  defence,  to- 
"\?'*f''Thr^hP  hour  of  need.     From  the  tanUness  incident 
;:^C  present  ^mpe  fee   mtufia  system  of  the  United  States 
he'  Vii^ginU  and  Pennsylvania  troops  could  not  be  o^g.mzcd 

lrJtat.TwUl;rngJ:n'TdtriVp^a^^^^^^^^^^ 


) 


,v'*^.«-.r< 


168 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAfl. 


m 


they  vere  called  out.  And  even  of  the  Maryland  militia,  nearly 
one  half  joined  the  arnriy  but  half  an  hour  before  the  action.— 
A  considerable  part  of  this  delay  was  occasioned  by  general 
Winder's  not  receiving  the  authority  to  call  out  the  state 
troops  for  some  time  after  it  was  issued,  owing  to  his  being 
constantly  in  motion  at  this  period,  in  order  to  acquire  a  com- 
plete knowledge  of  the  topography  of  the  district. 

During  the  month  of  July,  the  enemy's  fleet  ascended  both 
the  Fotomstck  and  Patuxent,  and  committed  great  depreda- 
tions, particularly  on  the  former  river.  Admiral  Cochrane  ar^ 
rived  in  the  Chesapeake  in  the  beginning  of  August,  and  on 
the  1 7th,  the  fleet,  then  in  great  force,  was  joined  by  admiral 
Malcolm,  with  the  expedition  from  Bermuda,  destined  against 
Baltimore  and  Washington. 

The  circumstance  of  Barney's  flotilla  having  taken  shelter 
at  the  head  of  the  Patuxent  proved  extremely  favourable  to  an 
attack  on  Washington,  as  it  masked  the  intention  of  the'snemy. 
This  attack,  therefore,  being  determined  on,  Cochrane  moved 
his  squadron  up  the  river.    Previously  to  his  entering  the 
Patuxent,  however,  he  detached  captain  Gordon,  with  a  num- 
ber  of  ships^and  bombs  to  the  Potomack,  to  bombard  fort 
VVarburton,  wuth  a  view  of  destroying  that  fort,  and  opetiing  a 
free  communication  above,  as  well  as  to  cover  the  retreat  of 
the  army,  should  its  return  by  the  Bladensburg  road  be  found 
too  hazardous.      Sir  Peter  Parker  with   the  Menelaus  and 
some  small  vessels,  was  sent  up  the  Chesapeake  to  make  a 
diversion  in  that  quarter.     The  remainder  of  the  naval  force, 
und  the  troops,  moved  up  the  Patuxent  to  Benedict,  where 
the  army  was  landed  on  the  19th  and  20th. 

So  soon  as  the  necessary  provisions  and  stores  could  be  as- 
sembled and  arranged,  major-general  Ross,  with  his  army, 
moved  towards  Nottingham,  while  the  British  flotilla,  consist- 
ing of  the  armed  launches,  pinnaces,  barges,  and  other  boats 
of  the  fleet,  under  admiral  Cockburn,  passed  up  the  river, 
keeping  on  the  right  flank  of  the  army,  for  the  double  purpose 
gf  supplying  it  with  provisions,  and,  if  necessary,  of  passing  it 
4)ver  to  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  which  secured  a  safe  retreat 
to  the  ships,  should  it  be  judged  necessary.  The  army  reach- 
ed Nottingham  on  the  21st,  and  the  following  day  arrived  at 
"Marlborough.  The  flotilla,  keeping  pace  with  the  army,  ar- 
rived within  sight  of  Barney's  flotilla  on  the  22d.  It  was  in- 
stantly set  on  fire  by  a  small  party  of  sailors  who  had  been  left 
lor  that  purpose,  the  commodore  having  previously  joined 
ireneral  Winder  with  the  greater  part  of  his  force.    The  flo- 

'~~  '    *  . A^*^At»^«^     «v.^^k    -..tfkc^o^^l        ««.rk.^.ri    roll     m#r¥    tfllA 

Up,    Cji(<c^/iing 


•  11 

una 


oOuli 


i_  1 


V'li^.; 


.•  «'k  *-*  o<k1 


««»  Vt «  p  n     «0 1 1 


hiUids  of  the  enemy. 


I 


'■"t'Aimm^  r*»e«-»i"- 


w 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


169 


tia,  nearly 
action 

ly  general 
the  slate 
his  beiiTg 

re  a  com- 

nded  both 
t  depreda- 
chrane  ar* 
St,  and  on 
)y  admiral 
ed  against 

en  shelter 
rablc  to  an 
he'snemy. 
me  moved 
tering  the 
ith  a  num- 
nbard  fort 

opening  a 
I  retreat  of 
d  be  found 
iclaus  and 

to  make  a 
aval  force, 
ict,  where 

3uld  be  as- 
his  army, 
la,  consist- 
other  boats 
the  river, 
)le  purpose 
F  passing  it 
safe  retreat 
rmy  reach - 
f  arrived  at 
B  army,  ar^ 
It  was  in« 
ad  been  left 
isly  joined 
.     The  flo- 


While  a  large  regular  army,  well  disciphned  and  accoutred 
acccmpanied  with  a  strong  naval  force,  was  thus  within  16 
^ile^of  the  American  capital,  the  principal  part  of  the  force 
destined  to  defend  it  had  not  arrived,  and  a  considerable  por- 
don  stm  remained  at  their  homes.     The  actual  force  under 
leneral  Winder  only  amounted  to  about  3000  men,  of  whom 
1400   were  regulars,  including   the  marines  and  sea- fencibies 
under  commodore  Barney;  the  remainder  were  volunteers  and 
Stia,  principally  from  the  district  of  Columbia^     1  he  force 
S  L  enemy  at  this  time  was  variously  estimated.      1  he  bes 
ronion  made  them  from  5000  to  7000.    Ihey  were  without 
cavalry,  and  had  only  two  small  field-pieces  and  one  howitzer, 
drawn  by  men.    Four  hundred  of  the  American  trooj^s  weiv 
cavalry,  and  they  had  17  pieces  of  artillery. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  23d  the  British  army  again  set  out, 
and  after  some  skirmishing  with  the  American  advance,  :n 
which  the  latter  were  compelled  to  retreat,  bivouacked  for  the 
Lht  five  miles  in  advance  of  Marlborough.  Towards  sun- 
A  general  Winder  ordered  his  troops  to  retreat  to  Washing- 
ton that  he  might  effect  a  union  of  his  whole  forces.  1  o  this 
he  was  also  induced  by  the  fear  of  a  night  at  ack,  from  he  su- 
periority of  the  enemy,  and  want  of  discipline  m  his  troops, 
and  knowing  that  in  such  an  attack  his  superiority  m  artillery 

could  not  be  used.  .  . 

Meanwhile  general  Stansbury  arrived  at  Bladensbuig  on  the 
22d  with  about  1300  Baltimore  militia,  and  on  the  evening  of 
the  23d  he  was  joined  by  colonel  Sterret  with  anciier  militia 
regiment  from  Baltimore,  about  500  strong,  a  rifle  battalion  ot 
about  150  men,  and  two  companies  of  volunteer  artillery,  also 
about  150  strong;  making  Stansbury's  whole  force  about  2100. 
Most  of  these  troops  were  extremely  fatigued  by  their  march 

from  Baltimore.  **  .  r«u„  o«,t 
General  Stansbury  encamped  during  the  mght  ot  the  2ocl 
on  a  hill  near  Bladensburg,  with  the  intention  of  attacking  the 
enemy  at  reveille  next  morning,  in  compliance  with  previous 
orders  from  general  Winder.     Near  midnight,  a  firing  from 
the  advanced  pickets  on  the  road  by  which  the  enemy  was  ex- 
pected, caused  the  troops  to  be  prepared  for  action,  and  they 
were  kept  under  arms  till  after  two  the  following  morning:  and 
hardly  had  they  again  retired  to  their  tents,  when  information 
%yas  received  from  general  Winder  that  he  had  retreated  to  th(j^ 
city   by  the  Eastern  branch  bridge.     As  this  movement   of 
Winder  exposed  both  the  rear  and  right  flank  of  Stansbury  r> 
troops,  and  his  officers,  whom  he  immediately  consulted,  were 
unanimous  in  ODinion  that  his  situation  on  the  hill  could  nc> 
"                          p  3 


J^'^ 


v^ 


170 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAU, 


be  defencTed  with  the  force  then  under  his  command,   worn 
down  with  hunger  and  fatigue  as  they  were,  it  was  considered 
indispensably  necessary  that  the  trocps  should  immediately  re- 
tire  across  they  bridge   at  Bladensburg,   and  take  a  position 
which  they  could  defend  on  the  road  between  that  place  and 
I  lie  city.     Orders  were  therefore  instantly  given  to  strike  tents 
and  prepare  to  march.     In  about  thirty  minutes,  without  noise 
or  confusion,  the  whole  were  in  motion,  and  about  half  past 
diree  in  the  morning  passed  the  bridge  at  Bladensburg,  which 
leads  to  the  city  of  Washington.     Securing  the  rear  irom  sur- 
nrise,  the  troops  halted  i-  the  road  till  the  approach  of  day 
with  a  view  of  finding  some  place  where  water  could  be  hac'^, 
that  the  men  might  partake  of  some  refreshment.  , 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  24th,  the  troops  were  again  put 
•n  motion  towards  the  city,  with  a  view  of  taking  a  stand  on 
.some  more  favourable  ground 'for  defence,  when  orders  were 
received  from  general  Winder  to  give  the  enemy  battle  at 
Bladensburg,  should  he  move   that  way,  and  that  he  would 
loin,  if  necessary.     Stansl  ary  immediately  ordered  his  troops 
lo  retrace  their  steps  to   Bladensburg,  and  took  a  position  to 
the  west  of  that  place,  in  an  orchard  on  the  left  of  the  \\  ash- 
ineton  road.     Here  his  artillery,  consisting  of  six  six-pound- 
crs  posted  themselves   behind   a  small  breastwork  of  earth, 
which  had  ^en  lately  thrown  up,  aid  the  riflemen  and  infan- 
try were  posted  in  the  rear  and  to  the  left,  so  as  to  protect  the 
"^>osition.    This  battery  commanded  the  pass  into  Bladensburg, 
and  the  bridge  leading  to  Washington. 

Meanwhile  general  Winder's  troops,  including  commodore 
Larney*s  command,  made  a  rapid  march  from  Washington, 
and  arrived  upon  the  ground  just  as  the  enemy  made  their  ap- 
pearance behind  Bladensburg.  Colonel  Beal,  with  about  800 
raiiitia  from  Annapolis,  had  crossed  the  bridge  about  halt  an 
hour  before,  and  posted  himself  on  the  right  ot  the  Washing- 
ton road.  The  force  which  had  arrived  from  the  city  was  form- 
ed in  a  second  line  on  the  right  f^nd  left  cf  the  road  in  the  rear 
of  Stansbury*?  and  Beail's  commai  d,  the  heavy  artillery  under 
commodore  Bari.cy  being  posted  on  or  near  the  road. 

About  half  after  12,  while  the  second  line  was  forming,  the 
enemy  approached,  and  the  battle  commenced.  The  Balti- 
more artillery  opened  their  fire,  and  dispersed  the  enemy  s 
light  troops  now  advancing  along  the  street  of  the  village,  who 
took  a  temporary  co-"  r  beliind  the  houses  and  trees,  in  loose 
order,  and  presented  objects  only  occasionally  for  the  fire  ol 
the  cannon.     The  enemy  then  commenced  throwing  his  rock- 


ets, and  ni3  iignt  iiuops  ucg 


bcjdran  lu  cuuCciiiidiv;  liwur  t..*^  un^^^- 


ilISroa\   OK  THE  WAR. 


in 


nd,  worn 
;onside''ed 
[Uately  re- 
a  position 

place  and 
Lrike  tents 
hout  noise 
:  half  past 
urg,  which 

from  sur- 
ch  of  day 
ild  be  hac'^, 

;  again  put 
a  stand  on 
'ders  were 
(T  battle  at 
;  he  would 
[  his  troops 

position  tc 
the  Wash- 

six-pound- 
k  of  earth, 

and  infan- 
protect  the 
ladensburg, 

:ommodore 
k^ashington, 
de  their  ap- 

I  about  800 
)out  half  an 
5  Washing- 
.y  was  foim- 
i  in  the  rear 
illery  under 
ad. 
Drming,  the 

The  Balti- 
the  enemy's 
dllagej  who 
es,  ii^  loose 
r  the  fire  of 

II  g  his  rock- 


and  to  press  across  it  and  the  river,  which  was  fordable  above. 
The  Baltimore  riflemen  now  united  with  the  fire  of  the  batte- 
rv  and  for  some  time  with  considerable  effect.    1  he  eneniy  s 
column  was  not  only  dispersed   while  in  the  street,  but  while 
aonroaching  the  bridge  they  were  thrown  into  some  contusnn, 
and  the  British  officers  were  seen  exerting  themelves  to  press 
Ue  soldiers  on.     Having  now  gained  the  bridge,  the  enemy 
assed  it  rapidly,  and  immediately  flanked,  formed  the  hne, 
and  advanced  steadily  on,  which  compelled  the  artillery  and 
r  flemen  to  give  way.     But  they  were  soon  ralhed,  and  united 
with  the  other  Baltimore  troops  at  a  small  distance  m  the  rear 
of  their  first  position.    One  of  the  pieces  cf  artxllery  was  aban- 

''Xto'^at  o'f'volunteer  artillery  from  the  city,  under  the 
command  of  captain  Burch,  and  a  small  detachment  near  it, 
now  opened  a  cross  fire  on  the  enemy,  who  were  partially  shel. 
tered  by  the  trees  of  an  orchard,  and  kept  up  a  galhug  fire  on 
part  of  the  American  line.     Colonel  Sterret,   with  one  of  the 
Baltimore   re-^iments,  was  ordered  to  advance,  and  made  a 
prompt  movement  umil  ordered  to  halt:  for  at  this  moment 
the  other  two  Baltimore  -egiments  were  thrown  into  contusion 
by  the  rockets  of  the  enemy,  and  began  to  give  way.     In  a 
few  minute*  they  took  to  flight,  i»  ^^/^f «  ^^/^^^  "^^^^^^^^ 
of  generals  Winder  and  Scansbury  and  other  officers.     B«^fj»»^ 
artillery  and  Sterret's  regiment   remained  firm  until,  bemg 
out-flanked,  they  were  ordered  to   retreat,  with  a   view  ot  re- 
iorming  at  a  small  distance  in  the  rear.     But  instead  of  ret  r- 
inK  in  order,  the  miliitia  regiment  retreated  m  disorder  «nd 
confusion.     Thus   was  the  first  line,  which  consisted  almosc 
i     exclusively  of  Baltimore  militia,   totally  routed  ana  put  to 

^On\^  -  rlP-ht,  colonels  Beall  and  Hood,  commanding  the  An- 
num -is  .ailida,  had  thrown  forward  a  small  detachment,  under 
colon- '    Kramer.     After  maintaining  their  ground  for  some 
lime  with  considerable  injury  to  the  enemy,  this  advance  vvas 
driven  back  on  the  main  body.     Their  re  real  exposed  the 
enemy's  column  in  the  road  to  the  city  artillery,  undf  r  majoi 
Peter,  which  continued  an  animated  discharge  on  them  ti  1 
they  came  in  contact  with  commodtire   Barney  s  commai.d. 
Here  the  enemy  met  the  greatest  resistance,  and  sustained  the 
i^reatest  loss,  while  advancing  upon  the  retreating  line.     When 
The  British  came  i-  :   H  view,  .nd  in  a  heavy  column  ni  the 
main  road,  Bar.iey  ordered  an  eiglueen  pounder  to  be  ope »e 
upon  them,  which  completely  reared  the  road,  ^nd  r^P"»«^^! 
th.nu     In  several  attempts  to  rally  and  advance,  the  enemy 


^Mm. 


172 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


ti 


f-  -m 


were  again  repulsed,  which  induced  them  to  flank  to  the  right 
of  the  American  line  in  an  open  field.  Here  three  twelve, 
pounders  opened  upon  them,  and  the  flotilla  men  acted  as  in- 
fantry with  considerable  effect.  The  enemy  continued  flank- 
ing to  the  light,  and  pressed  upon  the  Annapolis  militia,  which 
gave  way  after  three'or  four  rounds  of  ineffectual  fire,  while 
colonel  Beall  and  other  officers  attempted  to  rally  the  men  up. 
on  their  high  position.  Commodore  Barney's  command  now 
had  the  whoiQ  force  of  the  enemy  to  contend  with.  The  Brit- 
ish never  again,  however,  attempted  to  appear  in  force  in  from 
but  continuing  to  outflank,  pushed  forward  a  few  scattering 
sharp-shooters,  by  whom  Barney  was  wounded,  and  several  of 
his  officers  killed  or  wounded.  Being  now  completely  out- 
flanked m  both  sides,  the  ammunition-waggons  haying  gone  off 
in  disorder,  and  that  which  the  marines  and  flotilla  men  had, 
baing  exhausted,  Barney  ordered  a  retreat;  in  consequence  of 
his  wound,  he  himself  was  made  prisoner.  His  pieces  fell  mlo 
the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

The  Georgetown  and  city  militia,  and  the  few  regulars  which 
were  on  the  field,  still  remained  firmjbut  being  now  also  out- 
flanked,  they  were  ordered  by  general  Winder  to  retreat,  which 
was  effected  with  as  much  order  as  the  nature  of  the  ground 
would  permit.  After  retiring  five  or  six  hundred  paces,  they 
were  halted  and  formed,  but  were  again  ordered  to  retreat,  and 
to  collect  and  form  on  the  height  near  the  capitol.  Here  they 
were  joined  by  a  regiment  of  Virginia  militia;  who  had  arrived 
in  the  city  the  preceding  evening,  but  had  been  detained  there 
by  some  difficulties  which  had  arisen  in  furnishing  them  with 
arms  and  ammunition. 

General  Winder  had  endeavoured  to  direct  the  retreat  of 
the  Baltimore  troops  towards  the  city,  but  from  the  confusion 
in  which  they  fled,  was  not  able  to  effect  it,  and  they  directed 
their  course  northwardly  towards  Montgomery  court-house. — 
This  wrong  direction  to  their  course  was  principally  caused 
by  their  ignorance  of  there  being  a  second  line  of  troops  be- 
hhid  them,  general  Winder's  forces  having  arrived  just  as  the 
action  commenced.  ,  .„  j 

The  British  estimated  their  loss  in  this  battle  at  64  killed, 
and  185  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  Americans  was  estimated 
by  the  superintending  surgeon  at  10  or  12  killed,  and  about  30 
wounded,  some  of  whom  afterwards  died.  The  most  probable 
estimate  of  the  British  force  made  it  about  4500;  of  the  Ameri- 
can 6000;  but  it  must  be  recollected  that  the  enemy's  troops 
were  all  reeulars,  who  had  seen  service,  and  were  led  by  able 
oftrcers  of  great  experience,  while  the  American  troops  were 


<vii>BM#«fc«f»  *• 


HISTORY  D¥  TUB  WAR. 


ira 


the  right 
5  twelve* 
ted  as  in- 
led  flank- 
tia,  which 
re,  while 
men  up. 
Hand  now 
The  Brit- 
;e  in  front 
scattering 
several  of 
etely  out- 
g  gone  off 
men  had, 
iquence  of 
Ds  fell  into 

lars  which 
also  out- 
eat,  which 
le  ground 
aces,  they 
s  treat,  and 
Here  they 
lad  arrived 
ined  there 
them  with 

retreat  of 
confusion 
ly  directed 
t-house.— 
Ily  caused 
troops  be- 
just  as  the 

t  64  killed, 
5  estimated 
id  about  30 
it  probable 
the  Ameri- 
ny's  troops 
led  by  able 
oops  were 


all  militia^  with  the  exception  of  a  few  hundred  seamen  and  re- 
culars;  that  one  half  of  them  were  not  collected  together  till 
the  day  before  the  engagement,  and  about  800  did  not  arrive 
tai  a  few  minutes  before  its  commencement;  that  from  the  un- 
certainty whether  Baltimore,  the  city  of  Washington,  or  Fort 
Washington,  would  be  selected  as  the  point  of  attack,  it  was 
necessary  that  the  troops  should  frequently  change  their  posi- 
tions,  owing  to  which,  and  to  alarms  caurlessly  excited  on  the 
niffht  of  the  23d,  they  were  all  much  fatigued,  and  many  ot 
them  nearly  exhausted,  at  the  time  when  the  hostile  army  was 
crossing  the  bridge;  and  finally,  that  the  officers  commanding 
the  troops  wer6  generally  unknown  to  general  Winder,  and  but 
a  very  small  number  of  them  had  enjoyed  the  benefit  of  milita- 
ry instruction  or  experience.     When  these  circumstances  are 
taken  into  consideration,   we  think  we  shall  not  hazard  much 
in  asserting,  now  that  the  violent  feelings  of  the  moment  have 
subsided,  that  the  American  militia  rather  gained  than  lost 
honour  on  the  field  of  Bladensburg.     The  Baltimore  troops 
foujrht  eallantly,  until  forced  to  retreat  by  their  fianks  being 
turned.~.Whil6  retreating,  by  order  of  their  commander,  they 
were  thrown  into  confusion  by  a  new  motle  of  warfare,  of  whuh 
the  effects  were  to  them  totally  unknown.*    The  bravery  ot 
Barney's  command  needs  no  comment,  and  the  orderly  retreat 
of  the  Annapolis  and  Dir.trct  of  Columbia  militia,  m  the  face 
of  a  regular  army  of  superior  numbers,  (now  that  the  Balti- 
more  troops  had  dispersed)  is  above  all  praise. 

A  remarkable  circumstance  attendant  on  this  battle  was  the 
presence  of  the  American  president  and  heads  of  departments. 
They  retreated  with  the  second  line  of  troops  to  Washmgtoiv, 
where  a  consultation  was  held  with  the  commandmg  general 
as  to  the,i)ropriety  of  making  a  stand  on  the  heights  near  the 
capilol,  or  in  the  capitol  itself.     General  Winder  stated,  that 
the  diminution  of  his  force  was  such  as  to  render  it  impossible 
to  place  his  troops  in  a  position  which  would  prevent  the  ene- 
my from  taking  him  on  the  flanks  as  well  as  m  front;  and  that 
no  reasonable  hope  could  be  entertamed,  that  any  of  the  troops 
could  be  relied  on  to  make  a  resistance  as  desperate  as  neces- 
sary, in  an  isolated  building,  which  could  not  ^e  supported  by 
a  sufficiency  of  troops  without:  indeed  it  would  have  taken 
nearly  the  whole  of  the  troops,  he  said,  to  have  sufficiently  filled 


*  Some  of  the  finest  troo/ia  of  France  were  thrown  into  con- 
fusion by  the  rocket  brigade  at  the  battle  ef  LeifisK. 


i 

i 

1T4 


HiSTORY  OF  THE  WAH. 


the  two  wings,*  which  would  have  left  the  enemy  masters  of 
every  other  part  of  the  city,  and  given  h;m  the  opportunity,  with- 
out  risk,  in  24  hours  to  have  starved  them  into  a  surrender.  The 
objection  equally  applied  to  the  occupation  of  any  particular 
part  of  the  city.  It  was  accordingly  determined  to  retire  through 
Georgetown,  and  take  post  on  the  heights  in  the  rear  of  that 
place,  with  a  view  of  collecting  together   the  wholfe  of  the 

forces* 

It  is  impossible,  says  the  commander  of  the  militia  of  the 
district,  in  his  dispatch,  to  do  justice  to  the  anguish  evinced  by 
the  troops  of  Wasliington  and  Georgetown,  on  the  receipt  of 
this  order.  The  idea  of  leaving  their  families,  their  houses, 
and  their  homes,  at  the  mercy  of  an  enraged  enemy,  was  insup- 
portable.  To  preserve  that  order  which  was  maintained  dur- 
ing the  retreat,  was  now  no  longer  practicable.  As  they  re- 
tired  through  Washington  and  Georgetown,  numbers  were  ob- 
taining  and  taking  leave  to  visit  their  homes,  and  again  rejoin- 
ing;  aud  with  ranks  thus  broken  and  scattered,  they  halted  at 
night  on  the  heights  near  Tcnly  Town,  and  on  the  ensuing  day 
assembled  at  Montgomery  court-house. 

Meanwhile  general  Ross,  after  halting  his  army  a  short  tune 
for  refreshment,  pushed  on  towards  Washington,  where  he  ar- 
rived  unmolested  about  eight  in  the  evening.  Having  stationed 
his  main  body  on  the  heights  about  a  mile  and  a  half  east  of 
the  capitol,  he  led  his  advance,  consisting  of  about  700  men, 

into  the  deserted  city.  j   .        u  ♦!, 

Washington,  though  denominated  a  city,  and  though  tlie 
seat  of  the  federal  government,  possesses  but  an  inconsidera- 
ble population,  which  is  sparely  scattered  over  an  extensive 
scite:  The  capitol  stands  near  the  centre  of  the  city;  the  pre- 
sident's palace  and  navy  yard  are  each  distant  ab(*ut  a  mile 
from  that  building,  in  opposite  directions.  Around  each  of  these 
situations,  stands  what  would  elsewhere  be  denominated  a  vil- 
lage, and  a  few  scattering  rows  of  buildings  have  been  erected 
on  the  avenue  leading  fyom  the  capitol  to  the  president's  house, 
and  thence  to  Georgetown,  each  about  a  mile  in  length.  1  he 
number  of  houses  in  the  city  does  not  exceed  nine  hundred; 
its  inhabitants  amount  to  about  eight  thousand.  The  capitol 
and  the  president's  house  are  built  of  a  beautiful  white  tree- 


*  The  tivo  wings  constituted  the  whole  of  the  capitol^  the  cen- 
tral part  of  the  building  never  having  been  erected.  The  wings 
were  cvnnrctcd  bV  a 


Siljiili 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


I7fi 


masters  of 
unity,  with, 
•ender.  The 

particular 
ire  through 
rear  of  that 
holfe  of  the 

litia  of  the 
evinced  by 
e  receipt  of 
leir  houses, 
,  was  insup- 
itained  dur- 
As  they  re- 
;rs  were  o6- 
.gain  rejoin- 
ey  halted  at 
ensuing  day 

a  short  time 
vhere  he  ar- 
ng  stationed 
half  east  of 
ut  700  men, 

though  the 
inconsidera- 
m  extensive 
lyj  the  pre- 
ab^ut  a  mile 
sacii  of  these 
ninatedavil- 
been  erected 
ient's  house, 
length.  The 
ine  hundred; 

The  capitol 
[  white  tree- 


hiioly  the  cen- 
d.  The  wings 


iione,  and  have  been  deservedly  esteemed  the  finest  specimens 
of  architecture  in  the  United  States,  if  not  upon  the  continent. 
The  capitol  was  in  an  unfinished  state,  the  two  wings  only  hav- 
ing been  erected;  the  upper  part  of  the  north  wing  contained 
the  senate  chamber,  with  the  committee  rooms  and  office  con- 
taining their  archives,  and  the  congressional  library,  a  valua- 
ble collection  of  books;  in  the  lower  part  was  the  hall  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States.  The  southern  wing  was 
exclusively  devoted  to  the  hall  of  the  house  of  representatives 
and  their  necessary  offices,  the  whole  of  the  upper  part  being 
occupied  by  the  hall  and  its  galleries. 

Washington,  thus  abandoned  to  the  Br^dsh  arms,  presented 
now  a  most  deplorable  scene.  Though  surrendered  without 
the  slightest  opposition,  and  though  totally  without  fortifica^ 
lions,  the  British  naval  and  military  commanders  (admiral 
Cockburn  and  general  Ross)  immediately  issued  orders  for, 
and  personally  superintended  the  conflagration  of  the  public 
buildings,  with  all  the  testimonials  of  taste  and  literature  which 
they  contained.  The  capitol  and  the  president's  house,  to- 
gether with  the  costly  and  extensive  buildings  erected  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  principal  officers  of  government  in  the 
transaction  of  public  business,  were,  on  the  memorable  night 
of  the  24th  of  August,  consigned  to  the  flames.  The  large  ho- 
tel on  the  capitol  hill,  the  great  bridge  across  the  Potomac, 
and  the  private  rope-walks,  shared  the  same  fate. 

A  consultation  had  been  held  by  the  president  and  the  heads 
of  departments  on  the  subject  of  the  navy  yard,  on  the  morn- 
ing preceding  the   battle  of  Bladensburg.     The  secretary  of 
the  navy  described  the  situation  of  the  pi^blic  vessels,  and  the 
nature  of  the  public  property,  at  the  establishment,  the  vast 
importance  of  the  supplies,  and  of  the  shipping,  to  the  enemy, 
particularly  as  there  appeared  to  be  no  doubt  of  his  squadron 
forming  a  jiinciton  with  his  army,  should  it  succeed  in  the  con- 
quest of  the  capitol  (genlral  Winder  having  distinctly  stated 
on  the  same  morning,  that  Fort  Washington  could  not  be  de- 
fended); and  as,  in  this  event  nothing  could  be  more  clear  than 
that  he  would  first  plunder,  and  then  destroy  the  building  and 
improvements;  or,   if  unable  to  carry  oft"  the  plunder  and  the 
shipping,  he  would  destroy  the  whole.     And  if  the  junction 
should  be  formed,  it  would  be  a  strong  inducement  to  the 
enemy  to  remain,  in  order  to  launch  the  new  frigate,  which 
the  force  at  his  command   would  accomplish  in  four  or  five 
days.     He  would  then  carry  off"  the  whole  of  the  public  stores 
and  shippinR,  and  destroy  the  establishment;  and,  in  the  mean 
Utrtc,    greatly  e>iTena  lue  ncia  oi  ins  piuiuici  auu  w^vas.aa-.'.M 


ste. 


176 


HISTOHY    OF    THE  WAR. 


H 


Thus,  in  either  case,  whether  the  junction  was  formed,  or 

Whether  the  army  alone  entered  the  city,  tl.e  loss  or  destr,    t,on 

of  the  whole  of  the  public  property  at  the  navy  yard  wa   cer- 

tain      It  was,  therefore,  determined,  as  the  result  of  this  con- 

sultktion,  that  the  public  shipping,  and  naval  and  military  tores 

and   provisions  at  the  navy  yard,  should  be  destroyed,  in  the 

tvent^Ihe  enemy's  obtaining  possession  of  the  c„y.     Agree- 

aWy  to  this  determination,  tl  e  trains,  which  had  been  previous. 

?y  laid,  were  fired  on  the  api- "oach  of  the  enemy,  and  the  P«b- 

ic  buildings,  stores,  and  vessels  were  soon  wrapped  m  flames, 

^d  were  all  destroyed,  excepting  the  new  schooner  Lynx, 

which  escaped  in  an  extraordinary  manner.     The  issumg  store 

of  the  yard,  and  its  contents,  which  had  escaped  the  original 

conflagration,  were  soon  after  totally  destroyed  by  the  enemy 

Thionly  loss  which  the  enemy  sustained  in  the  cUy  was  a 

Greenleaf's   point.     A  detachment  was  sent  down  to  destroy 

h,  and  in  the  midst  of  their  devastations,  a  firebrand  having 

leen  thrown  into  a  dry  well  in  which  a  quantity  of  powder  h.d 

been  previously  hidden,  it  exploded  with  great  violence,  by 

which  a  number  of  lives  were  lost.  •  •„.j  .i. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  the  male  population  havmg  joined  the 

artnv,  a  great  number  of  houses  were  broken  open  and  plun. 

Sbfthe  blacks  and  a  few  disorderly  inhabitants.     Ihe 

conduct  of  the  British  in  general  was  orderly.* 

The  utmost  efforts  of  glneral  Winder  were  now  devoted  o 
collect  his  troops,  and  to  prepare  them  t*  remove  down  toward 
thS  and  hTg  upon  and  strike  at  the  enemy  whene^eran 
opponunity  occLed.  The  next  morning,  however,  intelli- 
Mnce  wus  received  that  the  enemy  had  moved  /or  Washing- 
fon  th^preceding  night,  and  was  in  full  march  for  Baltimore 
Winder  accordinlly  advanced  as  rapidly  as  was  practicable  to 
t^a1^city;Tur3  arrival  at  SnelPs  bridge,  on  the  Patuxent, 
Winder  learned  that  the  enemy  was  proceeding  to  Marlbo. 
Toiiti-h.  and  not  toward  Baltimore.  .    mj* 

Havi^  completed  the  destruction   of  the  public  bui  dings 
inthecolrseofthe25th,  the  British  left  the   city  at  n-.ne 


H 

\Ui  night,  and  bv  a 

course  of  the 

reached  Benedict,  a 

Meanwhile  captai 

his  sqi     iron,  cons 

two  rocH.et-ships,  s 

contrary  winds,  the; 

about  fifteen  miles 

27th,  two  days  aft 

their  retreat.    T' 

bard  the  fort;  but 

risen  was  observed 

surprise  of  the  Bri 

When  the  Britii 

nation  could  not  b 

Fort  Washington,  i 

ened.     Fort  Washi 

considered  almost  i 

too  weak  to  be  d 

Captain  Dyson,  th 

case  the  British  z 

the  fort,  and  proc 

But  nothinji;  was  h 

than  that  this  impc 

tucked  by  a  naval 

Nothing  was  n( 

ish   squadron,   and 

.\lexandria,  with 

,ance. 

On  the  day  prec 
tee  of  vigilance,  v 
[Q  watch  over  the 
despairing,  they  a 
generui  governmc 
proach  of  the  ener 
squadron   was   ap] 


*  The  famous  (or  rather  infamoua)  Cotkburu  must  be  ex- 
cepted/on.  this  remark.  He  so  far  laid  aside  the  d^gm^f 
BH  ish  admiral  as  meanly  to  revenge  himself  on  theprferty 
of  a  firmer,  .oho,  he  said,  had  been  giving  him  ^-'^^-J^^^^^^^^^ 
j/e  of  soldiers  ..ere  err^filoycd  to  --^l^^lf /^^ f  J//, 
troy  his  tyfies  and  iiresacs,  i^-aut  u  ,v,„5»«,=  --..•- -,---- 
what  a  chivalrous  spirit  was  here  displayed. 


*  Captain  Dyso, 
that  the  enemy  h 
and  that  they  iver 
in  addition  to  thi 
should  not  have 
Ithif!  must  have  I 
\naftial')  and  dismi 


HISTORY  OF  THE  VTAtt. 


177 


ildings  I 
It  ninei 


\Ui  night,  and  b"  a  ra-^id  march  reached  Marlborougl   in  ^'  c 
course  of  the  ty      On  the  evening  of  the  2^j\  they 

reached  Benedict,  and  re-embarked  the  following  day. 

Meanwhile  captain  Gordon  proceeded  up  the  Potomac  with 
his  sqi  iron,  consisting  of  two  frigates^  two  bomb-vessels, 
two  roctvet-ships,  and  a  schooner.  Owing  to  the  shoals,  and 
contrary  winds,  they  were  not  able  to  reach  Fort  Washington, 
about  fifteen  miles  below  the  city,  until  the  evening  of  the 
27th,  two  days  after  the  army  under  Ross  had  commenced 
their  retreat.  T'  bomb-ships  immediately  began  to  bom- 
bard the  fort;  but  on  the  bursting  of  the  first  shell  the  gar- 
rison was  observed  to  retreat,  an-^  in  a  short  time,  to  the  great 
surprise  of  the  British  commandei ,  the  fort  was  blown  up. 

When  the  British  army  first  left  the  Patuxent,  their  desti- 
nation could  not  be  foretold  by  general  Winder.  Baltimore, 
Fort  Washington,  and  the  Federal  city  seemed  equally  threat- 
ened. Fort  Washington,  which  commands  the  Potomac,  was 
considered  almost  impregnable  to  any  attack  by  water,  though 
100  weak  to  be  defended  against  any  large  force  by  land.--- 
Captain  Dyson,  the  cemmander,  therefore,  was  instructed,  in 
case  the  British  army  should  approach  his  rear,  to  blow  up 
the  fort,  and  proceed  with  his  command  across  the  Potomac. 
But  nothin.^  was  ft«rther  from  the  intention  of  general  Winder 
than  that  this  important  post  should  be  deserted,  on  being  at- 
tacked by  a  naval  force.* 

Nothing  was  now  left  to  oppose  the  progress  of  the  Brit- 
ish squadron,  and  they  proceeded  slowly  up  the  river  to 
Alexandria,  with  their  barges  employed  in  sounding  in  ad- 

,ance. 

On  the  day  preceding  the  battle  of  Bladensburg,  a  commit- 
tee of  vigilance,  which  had  been  appointed  by  the  inhabitahts 

I  to  watch  over  the  safety  of  Alexandria,  in  this  time  of  peril, 
despairing,  they  allege,  of  receiving  any  assistance  from  the 
generui  government,  and  having  information  of  the  rapid  ap- 

I  proach  of  the  enemy  towards  the  capital  by  land,  and  that  their 
squadron  was  approaching  Alexandria  by  water,  deemed  it 


be  eX' 
ity  of  a 
rofierty 
'd  rubs- 
nd  des* 

rtncle  I 


*  Captain  Dyson  alleged,  in  justfjication,  that  he  had  learnt 
that  the  enemy  had  been  reinforced  at  Benedict,  2000  strongs 
.and  that  they  were  on  their  march  to  co-ofierate  with  thejleet^ 
\in  addition  to  the  force  which  left  the  city.  But  surely  he 
\  should  not  have  deserted  his  Jiost  on  a  vague  rumour,  which 
\(hi9.  must  have  been.  He  was  shortly  after  tried  by  a  court 
Iniaftialj  and  dismissed  the  service. 

Q 


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'     HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 

,w.  duty  -^^zr^zt^^rz^:::^^'^^ 

i  %'?°ir  Ihelr  forceTapwrnch  the  town  by. land,  and  there 
the  fort,  or  <-h"r^f°'^' *PP't„  oppose  them,  with  any  reason- 
should  be  "»,»"* "*^^ '"""jhey  should  appoint  a  r^pmtnittee  to 
""'  TflTrtotLoSr  commanding  thVenemy's  force  about 
carry  ailagtotnetnu-      .^  _„ocurc  the  best  terms  m  their 

'°  ''"^t/ theSy  of  P^rsC,  hoVses,  and  property.    This 
power  for  the  saieiy  oiV  '  ^     common  council, 

Resolution  was  .""fXhe^Wsh  at  Washington,  a  flag  was 

and  on  the  ivnyX  of  '»>«  °"*'^^  ^'  *„  know  what  treatment 
5ent  to  the  British  commandei  hereto  fcno 

-"■'^llfflrit  -ds^Xsu"tedin  obtLng  posset 
rZorttf  t^r'The  deputation  ^^^^^^^^^^^^t 
Cockbum,  that>vate  P™?"''' °f.^^,3t  provUions  and  some 
^r mS  be  l^df irrwhatt^r  Siey  did  taUe  should 

'^\teVrh;blowingupofFortM^^^^^^^^ 

tion  was  -J^P^^S-tra^'oteTbrSoclbu^^^^^  He  would 
other  intentions  than  '''"/.^'Xed  his  shipping  iii  such  a  posi- 
give  no  reply  until  he  h»^  P'^^^°^^  f-^nt  W  the  hard  terms 
Son  before  the  town,  as  ^<>""^"=^';,\\'f?he  surrender  of  all 
he  had  decided  to  «»f°;"-  Jj^.^^Jlriiate,  and  all  the  ship- 
naval  and  o''d°r'=,.''«''/:uP"town  Gordon  having  arranged 
ping  and  merchandise  of  the  town,     uor  5         ^^,, 

Sis  vessels  along  ^Vrr^lunderes  took  po  session  of  three 
forced  to  submit;  and  »''«  P>"n^^Jf'™,Pft^  16,000  barrels  oE 
ships,  three  brigs,  ^f;,'''^ ^^^^^  *^  Vso  bales^^^^  and  wine, 

flour,  1000  l>og*'»«»4',°* '°X°J 'lue  of  about  5000  dollars, 
sugar,  and  °ther  aruc  es  o  th ya^^^^^^^^^^  ^,,^^^_  ,      ,,„, 

feut  "^°"S''.„^°'n'lexanaria,  without  a  single  gun  being 
taken  PO^''^  V>"  °^  ta,.«t  destined  .0  carry  off  his  booty  en- 
fired  agamst  him,  "^l!.^*"",  HunEcrford  arrived  near  Alexan- 
tirely  unmolested.  P^,"^.™  ""J^o^modores  Hodgers,  Por- 
dria  with  the  Vi'-S!""  ''?'"»' »^'^„j'=7f,i,o™  from  Baltimore, 
ter,  and  Perry,  *!"';  *Jf  ^^'S  b  he  enettif  at  Alexandria, 
Jt  ,v  ai  not  deemed  P'°P"  *°  ?^^^^^^^^  place.  Com- 

as that  would  probably  *^»"*^^^,'^^^  J.T ?"  n  the  rWer,  and  threw 
«,odore  Porter,  t'>«f  l";^' rc'=::?tfrora  the  ruiS.'of  the  fort, 
Wan  ««■•««<;>>'"«."' "y.rri^lfa^c^  Perry  threw 

'J .the  0PP°«\^^.'''t,l;'^'TheSl  of  a  small  despatch  ves- 
,      ,j,i.  a"othera.Uttle below. ^  J^^  ^^^^  p^^^^_,,^  ^^^^^^^^  ^„„,.„,^a 

GoVtorhc'ivrd  nolme'to  losej  and  he  tUeretore  precUHU.c, 


left  Alexanc 
had  not  the 
To  endea 
A  bomb-shi] 
pounder,  th< 
operations  c 
in  front,  oui 
right. 

When  th 

Porter  had 

two  eighte< 

sisted  princ 

private  riti 

militia,  whc 

woods  on  ei 

eftcctually 

ing.  These 

to  cleiii'  the 

measure  s( 

thick  wood 

The  firir 

fell  near,  a 

feet  than  tc 

noon  Porte 

point,  abou 

ship,  whicl 

of  all  the 

hns^  which 

the  foil 

his  prizes, 

reach  of  th 

by  another 

ship.     Th< 

ler  was  en 

licr  to  chi 

night,  the  < 

Within 

dore  Rode 

small  fire 

ters  mann 

immediate 

which  lay 

as  they  w( 

cial  efffict 

the  enemj 


iiistohy  of  the  war. 


17^ 


left  Alexandria,  without  waiting  to  destroy  the  stores  which  he 
had  not  the  means  of  carrying  off.        ^      ,       ^  .  ,  * 

To  endeavour  to  clear  the  passage,  Gordon  first  sent  down 
^  bomb-ship  and  two  barges,  one  carrying  a  long  thirty-two 
pounder,  the  other  a  mortar.  These  vessels  commenced  then- 
operations  on  Porter's  battery,  the  bomb-ship  throwmg  shells 
in  front,  out  of  the  reach  of  shot,  the  barges  flankmg  on  the 

^*^When  the  small  vessel  passed  upwards,  the  preceding  day, 
Porter  had  only  two  small  four-pounders,  but  the  same  evenmg 
two  eighteen  pounders  read  «d  his  position.     His  force  con- 
sisted principally  of  sailors;  some  navy  and  miiitia  officers  and 
private  rilixcns  acted  as  volunteers.     General  Hungerford  s 
militia,  who  were  ordered  to  co-operate,  were  stationed  m  the 
woods  on  each  side  of  the  battery,  in  such  positions  as  would 
effectually  protect  its  rear,  in  the  event  of  the  enemy  s  land- 
inir.  These  positions,  it  was  supposed,  would  have  enabled  them 
to  cleii.  the  enemy's  decks  with  their  musquetry,  and  ma  great 
measure  serve  to  divert  his  fire  from  the  battery,  while  the 
thick  woods  on  the  hii-h  bank  would  conceal  them  frona  view. 
The  firing?  lasted  a.    lay  without  intermission;  several  shells 
fell  near,  and  burst  over  the  battery,  but  this  had  no  other  et- 
feet  than  to  accustom  the  militia  to  the  danger.     In  the  alter- 
noon  Porter,  took  an  eighteen  pounder  to  a  more  advanced 
point,  about  a  mile  distant,  and  commenced  a  fire  on  the  bomb- 
ship,  which  did  so  much  execution  as  to  draw  on  him  the  hre 
of  all  the  vessels,  including  a  schooner  and  an  eighteen  gun 
brio:  which  had  dropped  down  that  day.  '         ,  . 

The  following  day  (August  3)  Gordon  left  Alexandria  with 
his  prizes,  which  he  anchored  above  the  battery,  out  of  the 
reach  of  the  cannon.  The  bombarding  vessels  were  reinforced, 
by  another  bomb-ship,  and  a  sloop  of  war  fitted  up  as  a  rocket 
-^hip  The  latter  anchoring  within  reach  of  the  battery^FoP- 
ler  was  enabled  to  play  on  her  with  great  effect,  and  comi>elled 
l.cr  to  chanire  ber  position.  All  this  day  and  the  succeedmg 
liiffht,  the  enemy  kept  up  abrisk  fire  of  shot,  shells,  and  rockets. 
Within  a  few  hours  of  the  departure  of  the  enemy,  commo- 
dore Rodcrers  arrived  at  Alexandria  from  above,  with  three 
small  fire  Vessels,  un<ler  the  protection  of  four  barges  or  cut- 
ters manned  with  about  60  seamen  armed  with  muskets.  He 
immediately  proceeded  toktack  two  frigates  and  a  bomb-ship, 
which  lay  about  twomiles  below.  The  failure  of  the  ^Vlnd,  just 
as  they  were  within  reach  of  the  enemy,  prevented  any  bench- 
cial  effect  being  produced.  On  theii-  approach,  ^h\™)^^J^{ 
the  enemy's  boats  were  put  in  motion.     Some  were  euip.oyeit 


jgQ  HISTORY  OF  The  WAR. 

•n  inwinP"  off  the  fire-vessels,  and  the  remainder  in  pursuit  of 

he  A^as  about  to  b^^^      frigates  behind  a  point,  which  obhgecl 

;tace  Khrl^^IlSn  to  be  deiended  again,  the  ba,-,. 
t,t  the- enemy.  »    •   v*   T^mWcrs  ae-ain  shifted  his  situa- 

'"'^riov^  h^  cne'^y'"  hUdmost  ship.     The  cutters  were 

and  the  seamen  on  M-^, ,  teen":mSet  when  an  at- 
Scarcely  had  this  "'^Kf"'  .^  i^^ro-es.     It  was  met  with 

cd,  and  hopes  ""^'^'-^l^^J^rrSce  was  built  for 
thirty-two  pounders  from  Washin|ton,  a  lu  ^^^^ 

>,ot  ^shot,  .-^^.  "'-^-'^,,^T  r'h    «h"l[  Xan  incessant 
tcry  formidable,     i  ne  wnu»c  vi  _ 

l-,rJwas  kept  up  by  the  -^^^f^J.^^.^.f^i/an  intention  of 

tempted  landing  at  "K^^^^^'  b';\PPr,eP">«'='> *•? '"e picket 
spiking  the  guns  of  the  o^^'^y'  °"'     , jvancine  Kuns  was  now 
g^iardr  Thcplan  of  »"n°y'"e  h»™  by^'»)^^^^^ 
adopted  with  better  effect  ''^f"  ^^'f  *"     m" '.pounder  and  two 
>,os'e  in  shore,  was  much  ^-^«V^y^'^^^':^Zi  Us  hull,  and 

J^^J'^o™  hoTr V:  areT.ll  ll^Jr^f.  force  was  drawn  to  this 

novnt.  .  .       _         _,i  ~  <,<,iar\ei^&ion  of  firinff 

;rbX;irrs^=^---^-'^'^-~^ 


HISTOBY  or  THE  WAR. 


rsi 


doreKodgcrs  was  approaching  with   m  \s' fi^r^.^'R-    J.^' 
enemy  being  thus  enaWed  to  direct  the  whole  of  their  attra- 

tlon"oward,^  him,  Rodgers  was  fov'^-^  "^  ^Z^'^' ^^'\^: 
maturely;  and  order  his  boats  to  -f"'™' *°  P'*''™' *"' v 
Sk  n  possession  of  by  the  numerous  bjrges  o.  the  ene^. 

Some  thirty-two  pounders  now  arrived  at  t^e  butten^.na 

r^rnpnters  were  emoloved  to  make  carnages.    Twc  mortars, 

firge  quamU^of  a^mrJlunition,  and  an  abundance  of  shot  and 

shelfs  were  also  received,  two  barges  ^r*  «2" W, /-  »n^ 

every  thine  promised  that  the  battery  would  speedily  be  put  in 

!3Le!.  ,?•  te  for  annovine  the  enemy.    In  the  evenmg  two 

ffifs  a      ored  aboveTrnaking  the  Uole  force  of  the  enemy 

odIS  to  the  batter^,  threeW^s.  three  bomb-ships,  » 

Zp  oUar,  a  brig,  a  sihooner,  and  two  b^'^VaSwere 

loi^ether  173  cuns.    The  guns  mounted  m  the  battery  were 

S  .8  po«nle«,  •  vo  12  jSunders,  six  9  po-n-J-"' »^^»^° 

fours     The  two  mortars  were  without  carriages,  as  were  all 

the  thirtyl^wo's,  for  notwithstanding  every  effort  was  made, 

bc^h  at  w;shingtoH  and  on  the  spot,  they  could  not  be  com, 

•"on^l"  mining  of  the  6th,  the  enemy  showing  a  diaposi^ 
tion  to  m"t^  imclligence  to  tlmt  effect  was  sept  'o  general 
Hungerfo?drand  preparations  made  to  meet  them  a.  the  batte- 
ry with  hotshot.     About  12  o'clock  the  t™o /"g^'^f '"™V 
wa^with  a  fair  wind  and  tide,  and  stood  down;  the  rocket- 
Tloon  bomb-vessels,  brig,  schooner,  and  prizes  followed  m  suc- 
cesTon,  t"e  gun-boits  J^deavouring  to  Bank  the  battery  on  the 
right.    Portir  immediately  dispatched  an  officer  to^general 
Huneerford,  to  request  him  to  take  the  position  agreed  upon 
"tSI  woods'  on  the  heights;  but  from  the  «>»tance  of  his  camp, 
and  the  quick  approach  of  the  enemy;  he  7«""tSLi    u  was 
before  the   firing  commenced,  and  alter  that  penoi,  it  was 
renXred  impos5ble,  from  the  vast  ^"f "'«««  of  sho  ,  she^^s, 
and  rockets  which  were  showered  over  the  hUls  and  fell  among 

''Vs'^e  enemy  approached,  a  well  directed  fire  was  kept  up 
from  the  bTtt^^  with  hot  and  cold  shot.  The  officers  and  men 
3  the  broadsides  of  the  ships  with  '^npa™""''*!  fi''™"?^ 
But  from  the  militia  not  making  their  appearance,  the  whole 
of  the  enemy's  fire  was  directed  at  thebattery.  Porter,  there- 
C  finding'ihat  in  a  few  minutes  all  the.enemy'sTorce^would 
be  brought  to  bear  on  him,  and  entertaining  no  hopes  of  pre- 
venting his  passing,  as  some  of  his  men  had  already  been  killed 
Ind  wounded,  he  determined  not  to  make  a  useless  sacrifice. 
W°.VZ  .n«mv.  was  on  the  point  of  anchoring  abreast  the 


'  I 


182 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


battery,  therefore,  after  sustaining  his  fire  an  hour  and  a  quar- 
ter,  the  commodore  directed  th€  officers  and  men  to  retire  be- 
hind  a  hill  on  the  left,  and  be  in  readiness  to  charge  the  enemy 
if  he  should  land  to  spike  the  guns.    The  two  frigates  anchor- 
ed  abreast,  the  bombs,  sloops,  and  smaUer  vessels  passed  out- 
side them,  all  pouring  into  the  battery  and  neighbouring  woods 
a  tremendous  fire  of  every  descripUon  of  missile.     In  the 
ivoods  on  the  left,  a  company  of  riflemen  from  Jefferson  coun- 
ty?  Virginia,  under  captain  George  W.  Humphreys,  greatly 
d^iLtinguished  themselves  by  a  well-directed  fire  on  the  ene- 
my's  decks,  as  did  a  company  ofmiliUa  under  the  cornmandof 
Captain  Gena,  who  was  pasted  on  the  right.    Th^  first  lost  one 
mli  killed,  and  one  sergeant  and  four  privates  wrundedj  Ji^ 
Sr,  two  privates  killed.    After  thebombs,  gunvess.els.  and 
S  had  all  passed,  the  frigates  proceded  doW.n  and  anchor- 
ed  abreast  of  commodore  Perry's   battery,  where  a  constant 
firine  was  kept  up  until  after  sun-set.  „       lu  «  ♦ 

Z  the  guns  ofPerry's  battery  were  of  too  -^f^^^^^ 
make  much  impression  on  the  enemy.  A  »'"g'^  "S'i'tn^ 
pounder,  which  arrived  only  thirty  minutes  before  the  finng 
began,  ill  supplied  with  ammunition,  was  the  only  gun  that 
could  be  of  much  service .  The  amraumtion  of  this  g^,  and 
that  of  several  of  the  six-pounders,  bemg  «fPf°^^f'  ?^^,^''i^ 
fire  of  the  enemy  being  very  heaw,  it  was  thought  advisable 
(o  retire  a  short  distance  in  the  c  r.  This  w?.s  done  »n  good 
^r-Aer  after  sustaining  their  fire  for  more  than  an  hour. 

Th;advanCeous  situation  of  this  battery  Prevented  rf.e 
enemy  from  doilg  much  injury.  Only  one  man  wus  wound^^. 
ThTnumber  of  killed  and  wounded  at  commodore  Porter  sbat- 
,  ery  Sw  not  exceed  thirty.    The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  seven 

'ft"tt;  PaXt'-rittent  up  the  Chesapeake  to  make 
.  liveS^in  &of  this  expedition,  was  the  least  fortunate 

:fte  commandos.  He  met  hi^  death  i»/X"fl!!',^'[,''X'"tb 
body  of  militia  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  under  the 

command  of  colonel  Reid.  .  ,    .        ■  • 

A  fnrrc  nf  about  1 50  men  was  landed  at  night  trom  nis  vca 
.1  «t  Se  headrf  whichhe  placed  himself,  with  the  mtenUon 

lt^..n  «?s  msLds  *o  Eive  them  a  warm  reception.  The  camp 
ground,  flanked  on^bothjmes  J^'t;;,*°°«^^^„„  ,^„  «ppe„ed, 
^a  ~cei;;d  iTfi^'rf  the  Am"erican  advance  at  70  paces  dis- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAH. 


183 


tance.  Being  pressed  by  superior  numbers,  the  advance  were 
ordered  to  retire,  and  form  on  the  right  of  the  line.  The  fire 
now  became  general,  and  was  sustained  by  the  militia  with  the 
niost  determined  valour.  The  enemy  pressed  in  front:  but  be- 
ing foiled,  he  threw  himself  on  th6  left  flank;  where  his  efforts 
were  equally  unavailing.  «  -j     i. 

The  fire  of  the  enemy  had  nearly  ceased,  when  Reid,  the 
commander  of  the  militia,  was  informed  that  the  cartridges 
were  entirely  expended  in  some  parts  of  the  line,  and  that  none 
of  the  men  had  more  than  a  few  rounds,  although  each  had 
brought  twenty  into  the  field.  The  artillery  cartridges  were 
entirely  expended.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  troops 
were  ordered  to  fall  back  lo  a  convenient  spot  where  a  part  of 
the  line  was  fortified,  for  the  purpose  of  distributing  the  re- 
maining cartridges. 

But  the  enemy  havinc;  sustained  a  severe  loss  lound  it  more 
prudent  to  retreat  than  to  pursue.    They  retired  to  the  beach, 
carryinp- with  them  all  the  wounded  they  could  find,  ammig 
whom  was  sir  Peter  Parker,  who  expired  a  few  minutes  after 
beintr  carried  from  the  field.     The  loss  of  the  British  on  this 
occasion  was  U  killed  and  27  wounded.     The  Americans  had 
only  three  wounded.     Nothing  but  the   want  of  arrmiUmUon 
could  have  saved  the  whole  party  of  the  British  from  capture. 
With  the  multitude,  success  in  war  is  generally  supposed  to 
indicate  wisdom  in  our  rulers,  while  defeat  is  umf  .rmly  attn- 
buted  either  to  their  folly  and  weakness,  or  to  treasonable  pur- 
poses.   The  clamour  which  arose  out  of  the  disaster  of  our 
arms,  which  led  to  the  capture  of  Washington,  7»  Pf  ^^^^^^^ 
directed  against  general  Winder,  who  commanded  the  Amen- 
cinforces,^ndgfneral  Armstrong,  the  secretary  of  war,  but 
chiefly  against  the  latter.    So  violent  was  the  ferment  of  the 
public  rind  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  ^^^^^^^'I'^^^Jv: 
forced  tc  yield  to  the  clamour,  and  request  th^  secretary  to  re- 
sign.   His  place  was  filled  firo  tern,  by  colonel  Monroe,  the  se- 

'Th7  conduct  of  the  British  while  in  possession  of  Washing- 
ton and  Alexandria,  is  withouta  parallel  m  the  ^istmj  of  ci^^^^^^ 
ized  nations.  In  the  wars  of  modern  Europe,  no  ^^^^PJ^^^J 
the  kind,  even  among  nations  the  most  hostile  to  each  o^her, 
can  betraced.     In  the  course  of  the  last  ten  or  tweUeyea^^^^^ 


U.'ti 


m 


IP 


184 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


the  British  have  affected  to  consider  as  outraging  ali  the  iaws 

of  civilized  war.  , 

But  it  has  been  attempted  to  justify  this  wanton  destruction, 
under  the  pleaof  retaliation.  Admiral  Cochrane,  m  a  letterto 
the  secretary  of  state,  dated  the  day  previous  to  the  debarka- 
lion  of  Ross'  army,  though  not  delivered  till  after  the  destruc- 
tion  at  Waf^hington,  stated,  that  having  been  called  upon  by 
the  govemor-eeneral  of  the  Canadas  to  aid  him  in  carrying  in- 
to effect  measures  of  retaliation  against  the  inhabitants  of  the 
United  States,  for  the  wanton  destruction  committed  by  their 
army  in  Upper  Canada,  it  had  become  imperiously  his  duty, 
conformably  with  the  nature  of  the  governor-general  s  applica- 
tion, to  issue  to  the  naval  force  under  his  command  an  order 
to  destroy  and  lay  waste  such  towns  and  districts  upon  the 
coast  as  might  be  found  assailable.        ,,     „    ^^  .    ,. 

This  ceneral  accusation  was  rebutted  by  Mr.  Monroe,  m  his 
answer  to  this  leuer.     The  secretary  declared  it  to  have  been 
the  resolution  of  government,  from  the  very  commencement 
of  the  war,  to  wage  it  in  a  manner  most  consonant  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  humanity,  and  to  those  friendly  relations  which  it  was 
desirable  to  preserve  between  the  two  nations,  after  the  res- 
toration of  peace.    This  resolution  had  never  been  deviated 
from,  although  it  was  perceived,  with  the  deepest  regret,  that 
a  spirit  so  just  and  humane  was  neither  chenshed  nor  acted 
upon  by  the  British  government.     Without  dwelling  on  the 
deplorable  cruelties  committed  by  the  savages  m  the  British 
ranks,  and  in  British  ^Miy,  on  American  prisoners  at  the  river 
Raisin,  which  to  this  day  have  never  been  disavowed  or  atoned, 
I  refer,  continued  the  secretary,  as  more  immediately  connect- 
ed with  the  subject  of  your  letter,  to  the  wanton  desolation  that 
was  committed  at  Havre-de-Grace,  and  at  Georgetown,  early 
in  the  spring  of  1813.    These  villages  were  burnt  and  ravaged 
by  the  naval  forces  of  Great  Britain,  to  the  ruin  of  their  un- 
armed  Inhabitants,  who  saw  with  astonishment  that  they  de- 
rived  no  protection  to  their  property  from  the  laws  ol  war.— 
Durinff  the  same  season,  scenes  of  invasion  and  pillage,  car- 
Pied  on  under  the  same  authority,  were  witnessed  all  along  the 
waters  of  the  Chesapeake,  to  an  extent  inflicting  the  post  se- 
rious  private  distress,  and  under  circumstances  that  justitica 
;;  the  suspicion,  that  revenge  and  cupidity,  rather  tMn  the  man- 
ly motives  that  should  dictate  the  hostility  of  a  high-minded 
foe,  led  to  their  perpetration.  .     .     .    -r  .u       tm  «m 

Although  these   acts  of  desolation  invited^  if  they  did  not 
"  impose  on  the  goverunicni,  uie  uecvpsiij  wiiVv»i+.-vi-i-v  j  -  - 


no  instance 

lage  of  Ne^ 

outrages  ab 

Fort  Georg 

who  ordere 

military  op 

by  the  gov 

Point  was  ' 

of  the  offic 

nal.  For  tl 

the  officer 

out  trial,  f 

I  am  CO 

tinued  the 

which  hav 

of  the  Uni 

humanity 

appears  >^< 

to  the  prii 

justly  cha 

ble  warfa: 

been  com 

acting  on 

disavow, 

But  tb 

this  gene 

('anada, 

secretary 

the  provi 

sorted, " 

ington,  V 

America 


*  JVe 
highly  r, 
measure 
vernmei 
The  out 
dy  an  it 
by  an  a 
cannot  i 
been  tai 

titiliCU   • 

the  war 


HISTORY    01     fllE   WAR. 


185 


;n..tance  has  it  been  authorised.*    The  burning  of  tlie  vil- 
r  Tof  Newark  in  U^        Canada,  was  posterior  to  th^  early 

„r  Ihe  officer  subiected  to  the  inve-tigation  of  a  milita.7  tnbu- 
^ll  FSburning  at  St.  David's,  committed  by  stragglers, 
the  officer  who  commanded  in  that  quarter  was  dismissed  with- 
al lt';ommtdK"tt';r;sident  distinctly  to  state,  con- 

tUil  general  charge  against  tl^  Ammcan  t.roops    n  Uppe. 
Canada,  to  '^e  dest^cuon  of    h     v.U  ges^^^  ^^^^^^^^^ 

secretary's  letter.     Ihe  governoi  u  |„„uarv,   1815,  as- 

the  provincial  P»rii»me"t  °n  th^  ^^ri.  o^  Jan^^^l  at  Wash- 
scrted, »  that,  as  a  just  ^f '^""""^ '?!  P^^^hat  inflicted  by  an 
Si;:rfo:rrtret:tTS:;er^r^t  inUpper  C^^^^^^^ 


mcawrea,  at  U2>tto  inaKe  o  .  /  deua>tati-m„. 

v^rnmait  and  to  the  ,vorld,  on  the  ^""J"'  f  .  ^  ,noment,  or 
The  outrage,  X^r"  *r»T7«r, "s  t  aIc*  Jere  generally  led 
By  an  '"f'^'"'' °^":\ZnrZli^  ,„  „  „,tematic  manner.  We 
iy  an  admiral,  ""f '■^^^""J^^'.yjr if  a  deHded  >tand  had 
cannot  bring  ourselves  '<> ^/'*""l   „f  oMrase  would  have  con- 

tinucii  *v    Mt,3.-f -- 

the  war. 


HISTORY  or  THE  \VAR< 


■if 

,  i 

if 

1'*' 

i 


and  the  chancellor  of  the  exchequer,  in  a  debate  in  the  Britisli 
parliament;  on  ai)  address  to  the  prince  regent,  in  November, 
1814,  was  still  more  explicit.  The  Americans  at  York,  he 
as9er>.<5d,  "  not  only  burnt,  the  house  of  the  governor,  but  also 
every  house  belonging  to  the  meanest  individual,  even  to  a 
shell,  and  left  the  populace  in  the  most  wretched  condition." 

Thus,  in  the  great  as  in  the  little  world,  one  wrong  inevita- 
bly treads  on  the  heels  of  another.  The  same  cowardly  spirit 
which  dictated  the  orders  for  devasti.ting  the  American  coast, 
was  apparent  on  this  occasion,  when,  cowering  under  the  re- 
proaches of  their  compatriots  for  the  stain  they  had  cast  on  the 
British  arms,  the  ministry  were  forced^o  shelter  themselves 
und^r  the  most  base  and  malignant  untruths.  But  the  reign 
of  fals^ood  is  always  short.  These  official  assertions  produced 
an  investigation  of  the  subject  by  congress,  which  must  cover 
with  shani^  the  authors  of  this  slander. 

From  this  investigation  it  appears,  that  nothing  was  destroy- 
ed by  the  American  comncander,  excepting  the  barracks  and 
public  storehouses.  That  several  of  the  most  valuable  public 
buildings  were  destroyed  by  the  explosion  of  a  magazine, 
trhich  the  British  set  fire  to  as  the  Americans  entered  tbe 
place,  and  which  proved  fatal  to  general  Pike,  and  to  a  vaiit 
httraber  of  his  brave  followers.  That,  notwithstanding  this 
great  provocation  for  burning  the  town,  nothing  of  the  kind 
took  place;  a  strong  guard  was  set,  with  positif  e  orders  to  pre- 
vent any  plunder  or  depredation  on  the  inhabitants;  and  when 
leaving  theplaee,  the  commander  of  the  American  troops  re- 
ceived a  letter  from  judge  Scott,  chief  justice  of  the  superior 
co«Pt,  in  which  he  expressed  his  thanks  for  the  humane  treat- 
ment the  inhabitants  had  experienced  from  his  troops,  and  for 
the  commander's  particular  attention  to  the  safety  of  their  per- 
sons and  property.  The  destruction  of  public  edifices  for  civil 
uses  was  not  only  unauthorised,  but  positively  forbidden  by  the 
American  commanders.  It  has  recently  however  appeared, 
that  a  public  building,  of  little  value,  called  the  parliament- 
house  (not  the  government  house),  had  been  burnt,  in  which 
at)  American  scalp  was  found,  (as  appears  by  the  official  letter 
of  commodore  Chauncey,  to  the  secretary  of  the  navy),  as  a 
part  of  the  decoi'^tion  of  the  speaker's  chair;  whether  it  was 
an  accidental  consequenc*of  the  confusion  in  which  the  ex- 
plosion of  the  magazine  involved  the  town,  or  the  unauthorised 
act  of  some  exasperated  individual,  has  not  been  ascert^ned. 
The  silence  of  the  militarv  and  civil  offi^rs  of  the  nrovinciai 
government  of  Canada,  seem  to  indicate  that  the  transaction^ 
was  not  deemed,  when  it  occurred,  a  cause,  either  for  retalia- 
tion or  reproach. 


The  burn 

Thames,   c 

verted  to  ii 

burning  of 

can  general 

soon  as  thi 

dated  the  6 

of  \var,  to  J 

of  the  offici 

Prevost  a  ( 

had  actedJ 

and  on  the 

"  that  it  hs 

assurance, 

Newark,  v 

and  abhori 

had  ensue* 

ark,  passu 

tributed  t 

the  unfort 

active  wai 

and  that  it 

jcsty's  go 

United  St 

had  for  itJ 

But  the 

only  expi 

officer;  fo 

the  wron] 

tish  and  ] 

they  surp 

iages  of 

Black  Re 

dispersin 

George 

the  veng 

of  the  12 

the  burn 

occurred 

and  that 

warfare, 

nial  to  1 

the  ener 

his  ansv 

ready  n( 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAU. 


187 


Trial 


I'he  burning  of  Newark  and  of  the  Indian  towns  on  the  nvcr 
Thames,  commonlv  called  the  Moravian  tcwns,  are  aho  ad- 
verted to  in  the  report  arising  out  of  this  investigation.    The 
burning  of  Newark,  it  is  stated,  was  vindicated  by  the  Ajnen- 
can  ceSeral,   as  necessary  to  his  military  o.perations;    but  as 
soon  as  the  American  government  heard  of  it,   instructions, 
dated  the  6th  of  January,  1814,  were  given  by  the  department 
of  war,  to  maior-g^neral  Wilkinson,  "  to  disavow  the  qonduct 
of  the  officer  who  committed  it,  >nd  to  transmit  to  governor 
Prevost  a  copy  of  the  order,  under  colour  of  which  that  pttjcer 
had  acted."  This  disavowal  was  accordingly  communicated, 
and  on  the  10th  February,  1814,  governor  Prevost  answered, 
"  that  it  had  been  with  great  satisfaction  he  had  received  the 
assurance,  that  the  perpetraUon  of  the  burning  of  the  town  ot 
Newark,  was  both  unauthorised  by  the  American  government, 
and  abhorrent  to  every  American  feeling;  that  if  any  oiltrages 
had  ensued  the  wanton  and  unjustiaable  destruction  of  New- 
ark, passing  the  bounds  of  just  retaliation,  they  were  to  be^at- 
tributed  to  the  influence  of  irritated  pa^ions,  ^qn  the  part  ot 
the  unfortunate  sufferers  by  that  event,  which,  m  a  state  Oi 
active  warfare,  it  had  not  been  possible  altogether  to  restram, 
and  that  it  was  as  little  congenial  to  the  disposition  of  hris,!^- 
icsty's  government,  as  it  was  to  that  of  the  government  ofjhc 
United  States,  deliberately  to  adopt  any  plan  of  policy,  wMph 
had  for  its  object  the  devastation  of  private  property. 

But  the  disavowal  of  the  American  governnvent  was^not  the 
only  expiation  of  the  unauthorised  offence  comiPAtted  by  its 
officer;  for  thb  British  government  undertPf^Atself  to  ^e.d^^s 
the  wrong.    A  few  days  after  the  bummg  pf  Newark,  the  ^i- 
tish  and  Indian  troops  crossed  the  Niagam^for  this  puijpo^e.; 
they  surprized  and  seized  Fort  Niagara;  th^y  buwt  th©  v^u 
iages  of  Lcwistown,  Manchester,  Tuscarpra,  B^iffa^P,  W4 
Black  Rock,  desolating  the  whole  of  the  Nia^^m  from^r,  -^ 
dispersing  the  inhabitants  in  ^he  extremity  of  t^>e  ^^i^^J-Jf^ 
George  Prevost  himself  appears  to  bave.beso  satl^.ft^d^^h 
the  vengeance  that  had  been  inflicted;  *J^^^»">J^s^^,^^^"^^J?! 
of  the  12th  of  January,  1814,  he  expressly  ^e^K*"!^*^^^*^^^^^ 
the  burning  of  Newark,  «  the  opportunity  of  pupishment^^ 
occurred;  that  a  full  measure  of  retaliation  ^i*d  t^kenplt^e, 
and  that  it  was  not  his  intention  to  pursue  f^f^ier  a  system  ot 
warfare,  so  revolting  to  his  own  feelmgs,  and  so  little  conge- 
nial to  the  British  chavacter,  unless  the  future  ^ff^^^.^ 
the  enemy  should  compel  him  again  to  resort  to  it.     J^^^^ 
his  answer  10  major-gcncitti    vt  iir.i2:=^"Y    ..-----,     .  ^'  .. 
ready  noticed,  he  transmitted  a  copy  of  the  proclamation,  «  w 


188 


IlISTOUY  OF  THE  WAU. 


■^ 


expressive  of  the  determination  as  to  his  future  line  of  coij. 
duct,"  and  added,  "  that  he  was  happy  to  learn,  that  there 
was  no  probability,  that  any  measures,  on  the  part  of  the 
American  government,  would  oblige  him  to  depart  from  it." 
The  places  usually  called  the  Moravian  towns,  were  mere 
collections  of  IndiaA  huts  and  cabins,  on  the  river  Le  Trench 
or  Thames,  not  probably  worth,  in  the  whole,  one  thousand 
dollars.     The  Indians  who  inhabited  them,  among  whom  were 
some  notoriously  hostile  to  the  United  States,  had  made  incur- 
sions the  most  cruel  into  their  territory.     When,  therefore, 
the  American  army  under  general  Harrison  invaded  Canada 
in  1813,  the  huts  and  cabins  of  the  hostile  In'ilans  were  de- 
stroyed.    But  this  species  of  warfare  has  been  invariably  pur- 
sued by  every  nation  engaged  in  war  with  the  Indians  of  the 
American  continent.     However  it  may  be  regretted  on  the 
score  of  humanity,  it  appears  to  be  the  necessary  means  of 
averting  the  still  greater  calamities  of  savage  hostility;  and  it 
is  believed,  that  the  occurrence  would  never  have  been  made 
the  subject  of  a  charge  against  the  American  troops,  if  the 
fact  had  not  been  misrepresented  or  misunderstood.     Many 
people  at  home,  and  most  people  abroad,  have  been  led  to  sup- 
pose,  that  the  Moravian  towns  were  the  peaceable  settlements 
of  a  religious  sect  of  Christians,  and  not  the  abode  of  a  hostile 
tribe  of  savages. 

But  while  excuses  are  thus  framed  with  a  view  of  palliating 
the  devastation  committed  by  the  British  army,  not  one  at- 
tempt is  made  to  palliate  or  excuse  the  navy  for  its  plunder  ot 
the  wealthy  town  of  Alexandria,  or  for  the  system  of  pitiful 
pilfering  which  was  carried* on  for  two  summers  in  the  Chesa- 
peake. Is  the  plunder  and  devastation  of  the  property  of  pii. 
vate  individuals,  then  less  henious  than  the  destruction  of  pub- 
lic edifices?  or  is  the  world  so  accustomed  to  the  system  ot 
wholesale  privateering,  unauthorised  by  the  laws  of  naval  war- 
fare, as  to  pass  over  without  comment,  when  com  knitted  by 
naval  officers,  not  only  the  sack  of  a  large  town,  but  the  .deso- 
lation of  whole  districts? 

The  general  orders  of  Brown,  on  crossing  tliss  Niagara,  form 
a  pleasing  contrast  to  the  devastating  threat  of  Cochrane. 
«  Upon  entering  Canada,"  says  he,  «  the  laws  of  war*  will 


•  u  ifTar  is  at  beat  a  savage  thing,  and  wades  through  a  sea 
of  violence  and  injusCwti  yci  coen  nvai  nscij  nun  no  iuiua, 
ttrhich  men  of  hvnour  will  not  ^/e/iarr /rom."— Plutarch^  life  of 
CaMillus. 


will  govern; 
.service  of  tl 
ing  peaceab 
treated  as  fi 
sacred;  pub 
disposed  of 
be  punishei] 
der." 

An  intelli 

lin  by  the  F 

tary  princip 

the  nossess; 

or  even  of 

men  are  of 

general  she 

all  his  stroi 

his  constani 

plication  tc 

they  apply ' 

lago,  of  abc 

iuted!  Inde< 

any  other  li 

tence  of  re^ 

and  induct 

effect  in  E 

enemy,  it  v 

brilliant  ex 

the  means  i 

he  was  xini 

v.'ds  comm 

retreat  woi 

organized 

ciency  in  t 

remained  : 

ping  wouli 

I'lom  a  cir 

Ross  certa 

tion  of  Foi 

But  the 

diffei^cnt  < 

barity  disj 

ings  rouse 

produced 

rausft  its  i 

thepubfiq 


%i 


histork;  of  thb  wae. 


189 


will 


(  a  aea 
life  of 


will  govern;  men  found  in  arms,  or  otherwise  engaged  in  the 
service  of  the  enemy,  will  be  treated  as  enemies;  those  behav- 
ing peaceable,  and  following  their  private  occupations,  will  be 
treated  as  friends.  Private  property  will  in  all  cases  be  held 
sacred;  public  property,  wherever  found,  will  be  seized  and 
disposed  of  by  the  commanding  general.  Any  plunderer  shall 
be  punished  with  death,  who  shall  be  found  violating  this  or- 
der." 

An  intelligent  French  writer,  in  noticing  the  capttire  of  Ber- 
lin by  the  Russians  in  1760,  remarks,  that  two  important  mili- 
tary principles  may  be  deduced  from  that  event.     1st.  That 
the  nossession  of  a  capital  does  not  decide  th^  fate  of  a  state, 
or  even  of  a  campaign.     2d.  That  in  the  modern  art  of  war, 
men  are  of  more  importance  then  fortified  places,  and  that  a 
general  should  never  acknowledge  himself  vanquished,  though 
all  his  strong  holds  be  subdued,  if  he  retain  his  soldiers  and 
his  constancy.     If  these  observations  be  correct  in  their  ap- 
plication to  European  capitals,  how"'muoh  more  forcibly  do 
they  apply  to  that  of  the  federal  government,  a  mere  open  vil- 
lage, of  about  8000  inhabitants,  and  in  a  coiintry  thinly  popii- 
iuted!  Indeed  the  capture  of  Washington  cannot  be  viewed  in 
any  other  light  than  as  a  predatory  incursion,   under  the  pre- 
tence of  retaliation,  but  really  with  the  view  of  striking  terror 
and  inducing  submission,  ainl  at  the  same  time  producing  an 
effect  in  Europe,  where  the  occupation  of  the  capital  of  their 
enemy,  it  was  doubtless  conceived,  would  be  viewed  as  a  most 
brilliant  exploit.     General  Ross  had  neither  the  intention  nor 
the  means  of  holding  Washington.  Without  artillery  or  stores, 
he  was  finable  to  remain  longer  than  24  hours,  when  a  retreat 
\vjts  commenced  under  favour  of  the  night,  and  even  then  this 
retreat  would  have  been  extVemely  hazardous,  but  for  the  dis- 
organized state  of  his  opponents,     and  their  blameable  defi- 
ciency in  the  ;  rticle  of  intelligence,     It  is  true,  that  had  they 
remained  a  few  da^onger,  a  communication  with  their  ship- 
ping would  have  been  opened  by  the  Potomac,  but  this  arose 
from  a  circumstance  that  could  not  have  been  foresef n,  and 
Ross  certainly  acted  wisely  in  not  calculating  on  the  destruc- 
tion of  Fort  Washington  by  its  commander.  **'•  . 

But  the  capture  of  Washington  produced  in  Europe  a  very 
diffei^cnt  effect  from  what'  was  expected.  The  Gothic  bah- 
barity  displayed  in  the  wanton  destruction  of  the  j^ubllc  build- 
ings roused  the  indignation  of  the  whole  continent,  and  even  , 
produced  such  a  sensation  in  the  British  p-arUament,  as  to 
cause  itft  liistigators  to  resort  to  falsehood  to  shield  them  from 
ihe^Ubfiq  odium.     The  agitation  of  the  question  also  drew 


190 


HISTORY  OF  '?^HE  WAtt. 


; 


'Al    > 


from  the  ministry  a  statement,  that  instructions  had  been  sent 
to  the  coast  of  America  to  desist  from  further  inflictions  of 
vengeance. 

The  threats  of  devastation  and  their  piratical  operations  in 
the  district  of  Columbia,  prodaced  an  electric  effect  through- 
out  the   union.    A  spirit  of  patriotism  was  kindled  by  the 
flames  of  the  capitol,  before  which  all  party  considerations 
and  honest  differences  of  opinion  vanished.    The  war,  at  its 
commencement,  was  considered  an  inexpedient  measure,  by  a 
large  and  respectable  portion  of  the  community.  .  The  mode 
of  conducting  it  al^>/,  by  the  invasion  of  Canada,  was  con- 
demned as  inefficacious;  as  resembling  more  a  war  for  foreign 
conquest,  than  a  resolute  assertion^  of  our  naval  rights,  which 
ought,  it  was  said,  to  be  conquered  on  the  ocean.     All  aid, 
either  in  men  or  mon'^y,  was  consequently  as  much  as  possi- 
I  le  withheld  bv  those  who  embraced  these  sentiments.    Party 
-considerations  had  no  doubt  theii  effect  in  producing  this  re- 
suit.     It  was  not  to  be  expected,  that  the  opposition  wouH 
fail  to  make  use  of  the  same  popular  topics  which  had  been 
so  successfully  wielded   against  thern^  when  in  power,  and 
which  iiad  finally  driven  them  from  their  seats. 

But  at  this  interesting  ci  isis  a  new  spirit  pei-vaded  the  nation, 
wrhicl.  aroused  it  almost  instantan-^^usly  to  arms.  Party  ran- 
cour, for  a  moment,  seemed  utterly  extinct;  «  this  is  not  the 
time  for  speaking,  but  for  acting,'  became  the  universal  cry. 
All  classes  seemed  inspired  wi*  h  military  ardour;  the  young 
and  the  old,  the  rich  and  the  poor,  ruched  into  the  ranks,  came 
lorward  with  their  contributions,  and  assisted  ik>  the  labour  of 
raising  works  of  defence.  Nor  were  even  the  females  idle  at 
this  trying  moment.  Their  labours  were  ijnited  in  accoutring 
the  volunteers,  and  in  providing  for  their  necessities. 

These  movements  were  little  If  at  all  regulated  by  the  go- 
Ycmments  either  of  the  states  or  of  the  union.     It  appeared 
as  if  the  people,  perceiving  that  the  po#€rs  with  which  they 
had  entrusted  their  rulers  were  either  incompetent  to  the  crisis, 
or  liad  not  been  sufficiently  acted  on,  had  determined  sponta- 
neously to  aiise  ito  their  might,  and  take  the  defence  of  their 
respective  neighbSurhoods  upon  themselves.     Committees  of 
vitnliince  or  defence  were  every  where  appointed  by  the  peo- 
ple h  the  ,io\ih  meetings,  who  collected  money,  arms,  and 
ammunrtlon,  regulated  the  mjlitary  movements  of  the  citizens, 
Uxid  superintended  their  voluntary  labour  at  the  iortifications. 
Nor  was  t^c  public  enthusiiAsm  unavailing.     From  this  mo- 
ment, ahnost  every  encounter   with  the  enemy  shed  new  lus- 
tre on  th?  Ainencan  aims,  till  the  war  finally  closed  in  a  bla/e 
,o€  glory  at  New-Orleans. 


The  unan 

be  ex^mplif 

governor  CI 

magistracy 

a  proclamat 

Pittsburgh 

their  homes 

the  militia  j 

disposal  of  i 

diction  or  c 

to  the  defer 

poses  of  sel 

this  requisii 

or,  stating  5 

not  of  that  c 

tizens  or  sc 

of  the  town 

a  paramour 

confederacy 

tinue.  "  to 

shall  not  ol 

continue  in 

honourably 

standard  oi 

i  proceeds  fi 

Adding, « 

lency  couh 

the  army, 

and  to  inch 

lo  which  tl 

At  this  ] 

the  same  t 

:-18l4,  hedi 

cnt  characi 

aknost  exc 

with  a  spi 

peace,  whi 

united  det 

the  invade 

not  a  party 

ing  party  < 

differed  re 

secuting  t 

be  stimula 

common  ^ 


I 


ji 


niSTOUY  OF  THE  WAR. 


191 


The  unanimity  which  prevailed  at  this  period  cannot  perhaps  * 
be  exemplified  more  strikingly  than  by  the  proclamations  of  » 
governor  Chittenden.—Shortly   after  his  election  to  the  chief 
magistracy  of  Vermont,  in  the  fall  of  1813,  Chittenden  issued 
a  proclamation,  ordering  a  brigade  of  Vermont  militia,  then  at 
Plattsburgh,  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  to  return  to 
their  homes,  on  the  pretence  that  it  was  highly  im|^per  that 
the  militia  should  be  placed  under  the  command  of,  &«d  at  thf* 
disposal  of  an  officer  of  the  United  States,  and  out  of  the  juris- 
diction or  controul  of  the  executive  of  Vermont,  and  marched 
to  the  defence  of  a  sister  state,  fully  competent  to  all  the  pur- 
poses of  selfrdefence.     The  militia  refused  compliance  with 
this  requisition,  and  the  officers  publicly  addressed  the  govern- 
or, stating  at  large  their  reasons  for  this   refusal.     "We  are 
not  of  that  class,"  say  they,  «  who  believe  that  our  duties  as  ci- 
tizens or  soldiers  are  circumscribed  within  the  narrow  limits 
of  the  town  or  state  in  which  we  reside;  but  that  we  are  under 
a  paramount  obligation  to  our  common  country,  to  the  great 
confederacy  of  States."  «  We  conceive  it  our  duty,"  they  con- 
tinue. «  to  declare  unequivocally  to  your  excellency,  that  we 
shall  not  obey  your  excellency's  order  for  returning;  but  shall 
continue  in  the  service  of  our  country,  until  we  are  legally  and 
honourably  discharged.     An  invitation  or  order  to  desert  the 
standard  of  our  country  will  never  be  obeyed  by  us,  although  it 
proceeds  from  the  governor  and  captain-general  of  Vermont.'* 
Adding,  «  We  cannot  perceive  what  other  oljject  your  ixcel- 
lency  could  have  in  view  than  to  embarrass  the  operations  of 
the  army,  to  excite  mutiny  and  sedition  among  the  soldiers, 
and  to  induce  them  to  desert,  that  they  might  forfeit  the  wages 
10  which  they  are  entitled  foj:  their  patriotic  services." 

At  this  important  crisis  a  very  different  stand  was  taken  by 
the  same  governor.     In.his  proclamation,  dated  September  19, 
•  1814,  he  declares,  that  the  war  has  assumed  an  entirely  differ- 
ent character,  since  its  first  commencement,  and  has  become 
ahnost  exclusively  defensive,  and  is  prosecuted  by  the  eneniy 
with  a  spirit,  unexampled   during  pending  negociations   for 
peace,  which  leaves  no  prospect  of  safety  biit  in  a  manly  and 
united  determination  to  meet  invasion  at  every  point,  and^^c  1 
the  invader.     That,  as  the 'conflict  has  become  a  comm^^nd 
not  a  party  cor  .ern,  the  time  has  now  arrived  when  all  degrad* 
ing  party  distinctions  and  animosities,  however  we  may  have 
differed  respecting  the  policy  of  declaring,  or  the  mode  of  pw- 
secuting  the  war,  ought  to  be  laid  aside;  that  every  heart  may 
I  be  stimulated,  and  every  arm  nerved,  for  the  protection  of  our 
common  country,  our  liberty,  our  altars,  and  our  nrcsldesi  J^ 


1.92 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAI  • 


li 


111!'' 


the  defence  of  which  we  may,  with  an  humb*c  confidence^  look 
to  heaven  for  assistance  and  protection.  He  therefore  earnest- 
ly exhorts  all  the  good  people  of  Vermont,  by  that  love  of 
country,  which  so  signally  distinguished  their  fathers,  m  their 
fflorious  and  succes'sful 'struggle  for  independence,  to  unite 
both  heart  ^  hand,  in  defence  of  their  common  interest,  and 
every  thifiii  dear  to  fr#emen.  n       - 

The  B^sh  army  having  re -embarked  on  board  the  fleet  m 
the  Patu«€ht,  admiral  Cochrane  moved  down   that  river,  and 
proceeded  up  the  Chesapeake^  and  on  the  evening  of  the  10th 
of  S^l^mber  appeared  at  the  mouth  of  the  Patapsto,  about 
14  #iles  from  the  city  of  Baltimore.  Anticipating  the  debark- 
atitjn  of  the  troops,  general  Smith,  who  commanded  at  Balti- 
moife,  had  ordered  general  Strieker  to  march,  with  a  portion  of 
Ms  militia,  towards  North  Point,  near   the  mouth  of  the  river, 
where  it  was  expected  the  British  would  make  a  landing.  His 
force  consisted  of  55u  of  the  5th  regiment,  under  lieutenant- 
colonel  Sterret;  620  of  the  6th,  under  licutenant-colonel  Don- 
aid-  500  of  the  27th  under  lieutenant-colonel  Long;  450  of  the 
39th,  under  lieutenant-Kolonel  Fowler:  700  of  the  5 1st,  under 
lieutenant-colonel  Amey;    1 50  riflemen,  under  captain  Dyer; 
140  cavalry,  under  lieutenant-colonel  Biays;  and  the  Union  Ar- 
cillery  of  75  men,  with  six  four  pounders^  under  captain  Mont- 
Komery:  making  an  aggregate  of  3, 1 8 5  effective  men,     Md^or 
Randal,  with  a  light  corps  of  riflemen  and  musqvctty,  taken 
from  general  Stansbury's  brigade  and  the  Pennsylvania  volun- 
teers,  was  detached  to  the  mouth  of  Bear  Creek,  with  orders 
to  co-operate  with  general  Strieker,  and  to  check  any  landmg 
which  the  enemy  might  atter^pt  in  that  quarter. 

The  troops  moved  towards  North  Point,  by  tlie  main  road, 
on  the  lUh,and  at  3  o'clock,?.  M.  reached  the  meeting-house, 
near  the  head  of  Bear  Creek,  seven  miles  from  the  city.  Here 
the  brigade  halted,  with  the  exception  of  the  cavalry,  who  were 
Dushed  forward  to  Gorsuch's  farm  three  miles  in  advance,  and 
the  riflemen,  who  took  post  near  the  blacksmith's  shop,  two 
miles  in  advance  of  the  encMpment-    At   7  o  clock,  on  tfte 
morning  of  the  12th,  information  was  received  from  the  advan- 
ced videttes,  that  the  enemy  were  debarking  troops  from  and 
under  co>.r  of  their  gun-vessels,  which  lay    <>ff^the  bluff  d 
North  Point,  within  the  mouth  of  Patapsco  river.  The  baggage 
was  immediately  ordered  back  under  a  strong  r'«^^»/"^  S^^^^' 
eral  Strieker  took  a  good  gosition  at  the  junction  of  the  two 
roads  leading  from  Baltimoi'c  to  North  Pomt,  haying  hiMight 
flmnked  by  Bear  Creek,  and  his  left  by  a  mash,  lie  nei  v  ^auvu 
ile  approach  of  the  enoiny,  having  sent  on  an  advanced  corps, 


<.:P 


m 


under  t1 

advance 

mishinj 

being  a 

this  »)« 

througl 

his  vva; 

of  the 

tween 

comm< 

were  s 

the  ac 

gaUani 

niimbt 

the  re 

the  n< 

had  St 

briga* 

in  coi 

postt 

whiel 

Abou 

;inem! 

static 

marc 

thet 


niSTOaV    or    THE  IIVAB. 


19; 


un&r  the  comn,a„d  of  major  He"h  "fthe  5th  regUnem.^  Thi. 

advance  was  met  by  that  of  the  f"'*;^'.  *"bodv\>f  the  enemy 
j^,hing  it  mu^ed^to^be  lim^^^^^  D^^.- 

through  his  arm  into  his  breas^  1^1^     the  Command 
his  way  to  the  water  side  for  fe-embarkation.     i  w^ 

"f  the'enemy's  forces  then  d-'>'«'^?';^"'^*ll'^% ^d 
(ween  2  and  So'clock,  the  enemy  s  whole  torce  came    v       . 

ommenced  the  battU  by  »on'''toSes  "^d  ^*tt 
were  succeeded  by  the  ^"'f'?^™^.  ^"^"^ '"''IjeTerSoker 

nC4  ^-ing  the  ^^^'^^^^^^^^^^i::^^^^^ 

^e  =u;  0^  '^J^^^^^t:^^ 

bad  stationed  one  regiment  »l^'!'^"^l\^l\t^m^<>,  he, 
brigade;  b»t  the  enemy  not  t^mUmg  it  advisable  to  pur      , 

in  cmnpUance  with  previous  ?"^^S^'^^''"'.lf^l^,^„,tut,, 
post t,n  the  left,  a  half  mile  '»  »f  ^"'f  "/^^^dfuTB^tL^^^^ 
which  had  been  thrown  "P,"".  ** '''" '/Xn  U  e^eround  just 
About  the  time  general  Smoker  ''f^^|"  "\;hS""d  been 
mentioned,  he  was  oined  by  general  W'»^"' J,;°„Xed  to 
stationed  on  the  west  side  of  the  cty,  \"V^^'inh  militia,  and 
march  With  general  Dougla^  '''!'^'""liyB?rd  "nTXpost 
the  United  States"  ''f «»?"»' f''5i-^?P^X^;*^^^^^^^^ 
on  the  left  of  general  Strieker.  "»''"S '"*;"  *?"  ..-men  and 
brigades  of  generals  Stansbury  and  lorem»nj^thc  s^^^^ 
■marines,  under  commodore  RodgeWfthe  ^^^J^^'I"^.V'^  , 

teers.  under  colonels  Cobean  and  F.ndley,  the  Ba't'^o'*  *' 
tS,  under  colonel  Harris,  and  the  m?r>ne  artiUery,  "nde. 
c&  SlUes,  manned  the  trenches  and>^«enes=i«d^^^^^^^^ 

situation  s-,ent  the  night,  all  P'^P*"^.'^!'"'?!"  entrench- 

l^rte-m^i'leVlirthl-^^^^^^ 

coraing  down  o°Th«  Hf^^T  °  T-^.^^r  movements  to  those 
a-d  Su-i-^ker  were  ordered  to  adapt  their  moyemeui     »  » 

.„  .^„,n*aff«QUs  nosition,  strctclung  acroa»  the  Goumiy^nen 

S;<reneny  wa;  likely  to  f  PS«;^^|J  ^^  S^^con^^ 
tlireateii.    This  mpvcmenunti^ted  tl?e  Butwn  19 

11    "^7 


n  ^3 


>5i 


*A, 


1^4 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


k-i.]t 


their  forces  in  front,  pushing  his  advance  to  within  a  mile  of 

♦  he  entrenchments,  driving  in  the  videttes,  and  showing  an 
intention  of  attacking  the  position  that  evening.  Smith,  there- 
fore, immediately  drew  generals  Winder  and  Strieker  ncarei* 
to  the  right  of  the  enemy,  with  the  intention  K^M^ing  on  his 
right  or  rear  should  he  attack  the  entrenchments,  or,  if  he  de- 
clined it,  of  attacking  him  in  the  morning. 

As  soon  as  the  British  troops  had  debarked  at  North  Point, 
the  fleet  proceeded  up  the  Patapsco,  to  bombard  Fort  M'Henry, 
which  coftimands  the  entrance  to  the  harbour  of  Baltimore  — 
On  the  tSth,  about  sunrise,  the  British  commenced  the  attack 
from  their  bomb-vessels,  at  the  distance  of  about  two  miles, 
TV hCD,  finding  that  the  shells  reached  the  fort,  they  anchored, 
andikcpt  up  an  incessant  and  well-directed  bombardment.      ' 

^ort  M'Henry  was  commanded  by  lieutenant-colonel  Arm- 
ist€ad.  .  The  garrison  consisted  of  one  company  of  United 
States'  artillery,  under  captain  Evans,  and  two  companies  of 
sca-fencibles,  under  captains  Bunbury  and  Addison.  Of  these 
ilnee  companies,  35  men  were  unfortunately  on  the  sick  list 
and  unfit  for  duty.  In  contemplation  of  the  attack,  Armistead 
i.ad  been  fumislied  with  two  companies  of  volunteer  artillery 
from  the  city  of  Baltimore,  under  captain  Berry  and  licuten- 
unt-comraandant  Pennington^  a  company  of  volunteer  artille- 
rists, under  judge  Nicholson,  who  had  proffered  their  services, 
a  detachment  from  commodore  Barney's  flotilla,  under  lieu- 
tenant Redn)anf  apd  about  six  hundred  infantry,  under  the 
command  of  lieutenant-colonel  Stewart  and  major  Lane,  con- 
sisting of  detacjiments  from  the  12th,  14th,  36th,  and  S8th  re- 
l^iments  of  United  States*  troops — the  total  amounting  to 
ubout  a  thousand  efi'ective  men.  Two  batteries  to  the  right 
of  Fort  M*Henry,  upon  the  Patapsco,  were  manned,  the  one 
by  Jieutenant  Newcombe,  with  a  detachment  of  sailors,  the 
other  by  lieutenant  Webster,  of  the  flotilla.  The  former  was 
villcd  Fort  Covington,  the  latter  the  City  Battery. 

As  soon  as  the  British  commenced  the  bombardment,  the 
butteries  at  the  fort  were  opened  in  return;  but  the  firing  sooa" 

•  eased  on  the  part  of  the  Americans,  as  it  was  found  that  all 
1  he  shot  and  shells  fell  considerably  short  of  the  British  ves- 
:;cls.  This  was  a  most  distressing  circumstance  to  the  troops 
in  the  fort,  as  it  eompt  d  them  to  remain  inactive,  though 
oxpd&ed  to  a  constant  and  tremendous  shower  of  shells.  But 
though  thus  inactive,  and  without  that  security,  which,  in  more 
rcsular  fortifications*  is  Drovided  for  such  occasionss  not  a  man 
shrunk  from  his  post.  ^ 

About  2  o'clock,  P.  M.  one  of  the  twenty-four-poundcrs  ori 
il^e  gouth-west  bastion,  under  the  immediate  command  of  cap- 


tain Nichol 

which  kille 

his  men;   t 

wounded,  a 

ish  to  sus| 

bomb-ships 

now  open€< 

ter,  bv  aga; 

the  garriso 

The  Bri 

slight  inte 

of  the   13t: 

During  th 

vere,  two 

passing  Fc 

were  soor 

These  fort 

It  is  supp 

picket  mei 

In  the 
municatioi 
enterprise 
agreed  to 
still  contii 
cans,  the 
darkness, 
light,  wh 
Virginia  1 
time  majc 
suit  of  th 
valry  was 
were,  hoM 
being  uil 
greater  p 
found  iir 
sti^ggler 
The  n 
bombardi 
North  Pc 
that  level 
wottld  hi 
been  in  ! 
of  tli«  e 
pdht  wl 
Ifne  of  d 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAH. 


K?5 


lain  Nicholson,  was  dismounted  by  a  shell,  the  explosion  froin 
which  killed  his  second  lieutenant,  and  wounded  several  ot 
his  men;   the  bustle  necessarily  produced  m  removing  the 
wounded,  and  remounting  the  gun,  probably  mduced  the  Rrit- 
ish  to  suspect  that  the  garrison  was  in  confusion,  as  tnree 
bomb-ships  were  immediately  advanced.    But  the  Bre,  whioh      ^ 
now  opened  from  the  fort,  soon  compelled  them  to  seek  shel-      • 
ter,  bv  again  withdrawing  out  of  the  reach  of  the  guns,  when 
the  garrison  gave  three  cheers,  and  again  ceased  firing. 

The  British  continued  throwing  shells,  with  one  or  two 
slight  intermissions,  for  twentvjve  hours,  yiz.  from  ^sunrise 
of  the   13th,  till  7  o'clock,  A.^g^the  14th  of  September. 
Durine  the  night,  whilst  the  bombardment  was  the  most  se- 
vere,  two  or  three  rocket  vessels  and,  barges  succeeded  m 
passing  Fort  M^Henry,  and  getting  up  the  Patapsco,  but  they 
were  loon  compelled  to  retire  by  the  forts  m  that  quarter. 
These  forts  also  destroyed  one  of  the  barges,  with  all  on  ^oard. 
It  is  supposed  that  the  vessels  that  passed  the  fort  contained 
picket  inen,  with  scaling  ladders,  for  the  purpose  of  stormmg. 
^  In  the  course  of  the  night,  admiral  Cochrane  held  a  com- 
munication with  the  commander  of  the  land  forces,  aud  the 
Enterprise  being  considered  impracticable,  it  was  mutually 
agreed  to  withdraw.     Accordingly,  while  the  botnbardment 
still  continued,  in  order  to  distract  the  attention  of  the^Am^^^^^ 
cans,  the  retreat  was  commenced.    Owing  to  the  extreme 
darkness,  and  a  continued  rain,  it  was  not  discovered  till  day-  . 
lieht,  when  general  Winder  commenced  a  pursuit,  with  the 
v!rff  nia  brigade  and  the  United  States*  dragoons;  at  the  same 
timf  major  Randal  was  dispatched  with  his  l^ght  <^o»*P?^?".  P"^' 
uTt  of  tie  enemy's  right,  wJjilst  the  whole  of  tlie  m^li  a  ca- 
valry  was  put  in  motion  for  the  same  object.     All  the  troops 
were  however,  so  worn  oiit  with  continued  watchmg,  and  with 
S  uiTder  arms  during  three  days  and  nights,  exposed  the 
Ser  part  of  the  time  to  very  inclement  weather,  that  it  was 
found  impracticable  to  do  any  thing  more  than  pick  up  a  few 

''Th?mval  forces,  as  was  before  observed,  continued  tl.e 
bombardment  till  seven  o'clock.  About  nine  they  retired  to 
N^h  Point,  where  the  embarkation  of  the  troops  commenced 
ihafeven  "k,  and  was  completed  next  day  at  one  o^clock.  It 
would  have^  been  impossible,  even  had  the  American  troops 
been  in  a  condition  to  act  offensively,  to  have  cut  off  any  pari 
oj  ,"  B  enemv'i,  rear  guard  during  the  embarkation,  as  the 
Doint  where  it  was  effected  was  deiended  ironi  ai>i..i.ac..  oy  a 
Frnf Of  defences  extending   from.  Back  river  to  Humphreys 


196. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR, 


HI 

i 

■ 

^H 

f  '' 

WB 

n 

; 

I^^^Bi 

! 

1 

■i 

:  ( 

creek,  on  tlic  Patapsco,  which  had  beei»  thrown  up  prcvioub  to 
the  arrival  of  the  British.  vt     .  v,  • 

The  loss  of  the  Americans,  at  the  battle  near  North  Point, 
was  24  killed,  139  wounded,  and  50  prisoners.  The  loss  oi" 
the  British  in  this  action  was  39  killed,  and  251  wounded. 
The  loss  in  the  fort  was  only  4  killed  and  24  wounded;  no  list 
of  killed  and  wounded  on  board  the  squadron  has  been  pub- 
lished. From  the  best  calculations  that  could  be  made,  from 
fifteen  to  eighteen  hundred  shells  were  thrown  by  the  enemy. 
A  few  of  these  fell  short.  A  large  proportion  burst  over  the 
fort,  throwing  their  fragraenta|iround,  and  threatening  destruc- 
tion. Many  passed  over,  and  about  foilr  hundred  fell  within 
the  works.  Two  of  the  public  buildings  were  materially  in- 
jured, the  others  but  slightly. 

The  effect  produced  by  the  joyful  intelligence  of  the  failure 
of  the  attempt  upon  Baltimore,  may  be  more  easily  conceived 
than  expressed,  when  it  is  considered  that  almost  every  large 
town  being  equally  threatened  with  devastation,  the  case  of 
Baltimore  came  home  to  every  individual  bosom.  But  one  mo- 
ment before,  the  public  dismay  seemed  to  have  reached  its 
acme;  and  the  most  gloomy  anticipations  seemed  about  to  be 

While  admiral  Cochrane  was  threatening  the  country  along 
the  Chesapeake,  by  order  of  sir  George  Prevost,  the  latter  was 
leading  an  army  and  navy  into  the  United  States,  but  holding 
very  different  language.    Though  he  could  direct  the  British 
forces  in  the  south  to  lay  waste  and  desolate,  he  was  too  fear- 
ful of  the  re-action  of  such  barbarous  orders  to  dare  to  utter 
th6m  at  the  head  of  his  own  troops.    Here  his  language  was 
of  the  softest  and  inost  conciliatory  nature.     On  entering  the 
state  of  New-York,  he  "makes  known  to  its  peaceable  and  un- 
offending inhabitants,  that  they  have  no  cause  for  alarm  from 
this  invasion  of  their  country,  for  the  safety  of  themselves  and 
families,  or  for  the  security  of  their  property.     He  explicitly 
assures  them,  that  as  long  as  they  continue  to  demean  them- 
selves peaceably,  they  shall  be  protected  in  the-  quiet  posses- 
sion of  their  homes,  and  permitted  freely  to  pursue  their  usual 
occupations.     It  is  against  the   government  of  the  United 
States,  by  whom  this  unjust  and  unprovoked  war  has  been 
declared,  and  against  those   who  support  it,  either  openly 
or  secretly,  that  the  arms  of  his  majesty  are  directed.     The 

wise  not  aiding  in  hostilities,  shall  m.eet  with  kind  usage  and 
generous  treatment;  and  all  just  complaints  against  any  of  his 
majesty's  subjects,  offering  violence  to  them,  to  their  families, 


or  to  th< 

these  fa 

Plattsbu 

proceed 

poraneo 

Previ 

in  this  < 

Americ 

May,  b; 

British 

But  ( 

the  Gai 

genera] 

the  tro< 

sisting 

vost,  aj 

pose  oi 

There 

been  s' 

anothe 

the  lin 

states. 

The 

Lower 

Septei 

ter  hac 

cd  tov 

comb, 

ing  fo 

zed  Us 

*  and  n 

live  n 

ordna 

Fin 

press 

tack  < 

made 

cmul 

vided 

comt 

sono 

Aj 

and  \ 
mas; 


HISTORY  X)FTHB  WAR. 


197 


CVlOUb  to 

th  Point, 
le  loss  oi' 
ivoundej. 
d;  no  list 
leen  pub- 
ide,  from 
e  enemy. 
,  over  the 
;  dcstruc- 
ell  within 
irially  in- 

he  failure 
:onceived 
cry  large 
le  case  of 
It  one  mo- 
iached  its 
)0Ut  to  be 

^try  along 
latter  was 
It  holding 
lie  British 
s  too  fear- 
e  to  utter 
linage  was 
tering  the 
fie  and  un- 
larm  from 
selves  and 
explicitly 
can  them- 
,et  posses- 
:fceir  usual 
:)e  United 
r  has  been 
lec  openly 
ted.     The 

usage  and 
any  of  his 
ir  families, 


or  to  their  possessions,  shall  be  immediately  redressed.  With 
these  fair  words,  sir  George  Prcvost  led  his  army  against 
Plattsburg,  about  the  beginning  of  September,  while  the  flfcet 
proceeded  on  his  left  up  the  lake,  in  order  to  make  a  contem- 
poraneous attack  on  the  Americans  by  land  and  water. 

Previous  to  this  invasion,  no  military  movements  took  place 
in  this  quarter,  excepting  an  attack  which  was  made  on  an 
American  battery  at  the  .nouth  of  Otter  Creek,  on  the  1 4th  of 
May,  by  the  British  naval  forces  on  Uie  lake.  In  this  affair  the 
British  were  repulsed  with  loss. 

But  during  the  months  of  July  and  August,  the  army  from 
ihe  Garonne,  which  had  so  greatly  distinguished  itseK  under 
ireneral  Wellington,  arrived  in  the  St,  Lawrence;  and  part  ot 
the  troops  being  sent  up  to  the  Niagara,  the  remamder,  con- 
sisting of  about  1 4,006  men,  were  organized  by  sir  George  Pre- 
vost,  agreeably  to  the  orders  of  the  prince  regent,  for  the  puy- 
pose  of  undertaking  an  expedition  into  the  state  of  New-York. 
There  is  good  reason  to  suppose,  that  if  thiS  ^?Pf^'^^Tf!!fm 
been  successful,  a  powerful  attempt  wou.d  have  followed  from 
another  quarter  on  the  city  of  New-York,  m  order,  by  seizing 
tiie  line  of*the  Hudson,  completely  to  cut  off  the  New  England 

''^  tTc  British  troops  were  concentrated  on  the  frontiers  of 
Lower  Canada,  and  took  possession  of  Champlam  on  the  3d  ol 
September.  The  best  part  of  the  American  troops  in  this  quar- 
ter had  previously  beenformcd  into  a  division,  which  had  march- 
ed towards  the  Niagara,  under  general  Izard.  General  Ma- 
comb,  as  senior  officer,  had  been  left  m  command.  But  except- 
ing  four  companies  of  the  6th  regiment,  he  had  not  an  organi- 
zed  battalion.  The  garrison  was  composed  of  co^a^escents 
^  and  recruits  of  the  new  regiments,  i^t  exceeding  1 500  effec- 
llve  men  for  duty;  all  in  the  greatest  confusion,  as  well  as  the 
ordnance  and  stores,  and  the  works  in  no  state  of  defence. 

Finding,  from  the  proclamations  of  the  enemy,  and  his  im- 
pressment of  the  waggons  and  teams  m  his  vicmity,  that  an  at- 
tack on  -Plattsburg  was  determined  on,  eve.y  ^exertion  ^as 
made  to  place  the  works  in  a  state  of  defence;  and,  to  create  an 
emulation  an'^  'eal  among  the  officers  and  men,  th^yj^f^^^" 
vided  rnto  det.cnments,  and  placed  near  the  several  Forts;  Ma- 
comb declaring  in  order*,  that  each  detachment  was  the  garri- 
;rof  its  own  work,  and  bound  to  defend  it  to  the  last  extremi  y 
As  soon  as  the  force  of  the  enemy  was  ascertained,  general 
i.*i:.*«.u  .oiie^i  en  general  Mooers,   of  the  New-York  militia, 
anlarranged  with  him  plans  for  bringing  forth  the  mihtia  en 
masse     The  inhabitants  of  Plattsburg  fled  with  their  families 


tmitu 


198  f  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 

and  effects,  except  a  few  men  and  some  boys,  who  formed 
themselveB  into  a  party,  received  rifles;  and  were  exceedingly 

useful. 

By  the  4th  of  the  month  general  Mooers  collected  about  se- 
ven hundred  militia,  and  advanced  seven  miles  on  the  Beck- 
man  Town  road,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the  enemy,  and  to 
skirmish^with  him  as  he  advanced;  also  to  obstruct  the  roads 
with  fallen  trees,  and  to  break  up  the  bridges.  On  the  lake 
road,  at  Dead  Creek  bridge,  two  hundred  men  had  been. posted 
under  captain  Sproul  of  the  13th  regiment,  with  orders  to  ab- 
batis  the  woods,  to  place  obstructions  in  the  road,  and  to  forti- 
fy himself;  to  this  party  were  added  two  field-pieces.  In  ad- 
vance of  this  position,  was  lieutenant-colonel  Appling,  with  1 10 
riflemen,  watching  the  movements  of  the  enemy,  and  procuring 
intelligence.  < 

It  was  ascertained,  that  before  day-light  on  the  6th,  the  ene- 
my would  advance  in  two  columns,  on  the  two  roads  before 
mentioned,'  dividing  at  Sampson's,  a  little  below  Chazy  village. 
The  column  oii  the  Beckman  Town  road  proceeded  with  great 
rapidity;  the  militia  skirmished  with  his  advanced  parties,  and, 
except  a  few  brave  men,  fell  back  precipitately,  in  the  greatest 
disorder,  although  the  British  troops  did  not  deign  to  fire  on 
themj  except  by  their  flankers  and  advanced  patroles.  The 
night' previous  major  Wool  had  been  ordered  to  advance  with 
a  detachment  cf  250  men  to  support  the  militia,  and  set  them 
an  example  of  firmness.  Captain  Leonard,  of  the  light  artille- 
ry, was  also  directed  to  proceed  with  two  pieces,  to  be  on  the 
ground  before  day^  but  he  did  not  make  his  appearance  until^ 
8  o'clock,  when  the  enemy  had  approached  within  two  miles  of 
the  village.  Major  Wool,  with  his  party,  disputed  the  road 
•with  great  obstinacy,  but  the  militia  could  not  be  prevailed  on 
to  stand,  notwithstanding  the  exertions  of  their  gcperal  and 
staff  officers;  although  the  fields  were  divided' with  strc^g  stone 
walls,  and  they  were  told  that  the  enemy  could  not  possibly 
cut  them  off.  The  state  dragoons  of  New-York  wear  red  coats, 
and  they  being  on  the  heights  to  watch  the  enemy,  gave  con- 
stant alarm  to  the  militia,  who  mistook  them  for  the  enemy,  and 
feared  his  getting  in  their  rear. 

Finding  the  enemy's  columns  had  penetrated  within  a  mile 
of  Plattsburg,  general  Macomb  dispatched  his  aid-de-camp  to 
bring  off  the  detachment  at  Dead  Creek,  and  to  order  lieuten- 
ant-colonel Appling  to  fall  on  the  enemy's  right  flank.  T^^ 
colonel  fortunately  arrived  just  in  time  to  save  m^  icircal,  aiiu 
to  fall  in  with  the  head  pf  a  column  debouching  from  the  woods. 
Here  he  poured  in  a  destruv  ive  fire  from  his  riflemen,   and 


continued  t 

Major  Wc 

among  the 

enemy,   th; 

pressing  oi 

peded  by  o 

of  the  bridj 

the  galleys 

The  villi 

of'the  sma 

plain.  The 

of  the  rive 

Every  re 

upon  Piatt 

retire  aero 

and  to  cov 

done,  and 

Sproul,  re 

got  under 

took  posse 

constant  fi 

shot  from 

soon  oblig 

until  it  wa 

ed  to  dri\ 

for  their  f 

upper  bri( 

The  troop 

planks  we 

breastwor 

sage,   wh 

against  v< 

From  t 

ting  on  hi 

proaches, 

By  this  til 

Vermont 

p^ed  ale 

river,  exc 

clay  and  n 

behaved 

of  Vermc 

notwitlKit 

vourb  vi  i 

and  nighl 

nation  to 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


19^ 


continued  to  annoy  the  column  until  he  formed  a  junction  with 
Major  Wool.  The  field-pieces  did  considerable  execution 
among  the  enemy's  columns.  So  undaunted,  however,  was  the 
enemy,  that  he  never  deployed  in  his  whole  march,  always 
pressing  on  in  column.  This  column,  however,  was  much  im- 
peded by  obstructions  thrown  in  the  way,  and  by  the  removal 
of  the  bridge  at  Dead  Creek;  as  it  passed  the  creek  and  beach, 
the  galleys  kept  up  on  it  a  lively  and  galling  fire. 

The  village  of  Plattsburg  is  situated  on  the  north-west  side 
of 'the  small  river  Saranac,  near  where  it  falls  into  lake  Cham- 
plain.  The  American  works  were  situated  on  the  opposite  side 
of  the  river. 

Every  road  was  now  full  of  troops  crowding  on  all  si^es  in 
upon  Plattsburg.  The  field-pieces  were  therefore  ordered  to 
retire  across  the  bridge,  and  form  a  battery  for  its  protection, 
and  to  cover  the  retreat  of  the  infantry,  which  was  accordingly 
done,  and  the  parties  of  Appling  and  Wool,  as  well  as  that  of 
Sproul,  retired  alternately,  keeping  up  a  brisk  fire  until  they 
got  under  cover  of  the  works.  The  enemy's  light  troops  then 
took  possession  of  the  houses  near  the  bridge,  and  kept  up  a 
constant  firing  from  the  windows  and  balconies,  but  a  few  hot 
shot  from  the  American  works,  which  put  the  houses  in  flames, 
soon  obliged  these  sharp-shooters  to  retire.  The  whole  day, 
until  it  was  to  late  to  see,  the  enemy's  light  troops  endeavour- 
ed to  drive  the  guards  from  the  bridge,  but  they  paid  dearly 
for  their  perseverance.  An  attempt  was  also  made  to  cross  ^he 
upper  bridge,  where  the  militia  resolutely  drove  them  back. — 
The  troops  being  now  all  on  the  south  side  of  the  Saranac,  the 
planks  were  taken  off  the  bridges,  and  piled  up  in  the  form  of 
breastworks  to  cover  the  parties  intended  to  dispute  the  pas- 
sage, which  afterwards  enabled  them  to  hold  the  bridges 
against  very  superior  numbers.  -  r 

From  the  7th  to  the  llth,  the  enemy  was  employed  fe  get- 
ting on  his  battering  train,  and  erecting  his  batteries  and  ap- 
proaches, and  constantly  skirmishing  at  the  bridges  and  fords. 
By  this  time  the  militia  of  New -York  and  the  volunteers  of 
Vermont  were  pouring  itil^Dm  all  quarters.  They  were  all 
pteced  along  the  Saranac,  to  prevent  the  enemy's  crossing  the 
river,  excepting  a  strong  body  sent  in  his  rear  to  harrass  him 
day  and  night,  and  keep  ^Hm  in  continual  alarm.  The  militia 
behaved  with  great  spirit  affer  the  first  day,  and  the  volunteers 
of  Vermont  were  exceedingly  Serviceable:  The  regular  troops,^ 
notwitli^tandinff  the  constant  skii^lshlng,  and  repeated  endea- 

and  night  strengthening  the  defences,  and  evinced  a  determi- 
nation'to  hold  out  to  the  last  extremity. 


m 
m 


JOO 


HISTOHY  OF  TUB  WAH. 


Meanwhile  the  British  were  strenuously  enf  6^^  ">  P^P*'- 
inethe  fleet,  which  was  destined  to  co-operate  w"h  the  land 
forees  It  appeared  i»^ew  at  Pittsburgh  early  in  the  mom- 
ZTm\u^  no.  This  fleet  consisted  of  the  frigate  Confiance, 
c«rl^^  39  guns,  27  of  which  were  twenty-four-pounders, .« 

S"glA?nelfarr,\ng  15  guns;  the  »'•»?» Chub„?»wW;h'c;r"ed 
cawvine  H  guns;  and  thirteen  galleys,  fi*?  »' ^'"'t^M:"', 
w7aifd  the  reminder  one  gun  each.    The  ^"f"<=f  J°  " 

corniced  of  the  Saratoga,  carrying  26  g""'' >-'B';\"t 
were  lone  twentv-four-poundcrsj  the  Eagte,  20  gjns,  tne  ^  i 

^o^e^g^a  ir  th';^  Preble  7;  and  ten  ^1%^'' XiUsh  were  su'- 
ried  two,  the  remainder  one  gun  each.     The  British  were  su 
n<-ruir  both  in  size  and  number  of  guns. 
^MS^the  morning,  the  American  look-out-boat  announced 
to  commodore  MacdSAough,  the  commander  of  the  squadron. 
SeTp^ach  of  the  enemy.     He  at  this  time  lay  at  anchor  in 
ftttteburK  bay,  calmly  awaiting  the  approach  of  the  Brmsh 
squ^^nfthe'fleet  being  moored  in  line,  abreast  of  *«  wori^^> 
with  a  division  of  five  gun-boats  on  each  flank.     At  9,  the  llii 
Shieet  anchored  inline  abreast  the  American  Bquadron   at 
!.Kr!n,  qoo  vards  distance,  the  Confiance  opposed  to  the  Sara- 
tS^ftheLWt  to  uTe  Eagle,  the  British  galleys  and  one  o| 
Ihl  slOTPS  to  "be  TiconderSga,  Preble,  and  the  left  division  o 
Z  Sc«i  galleys;  the  other  sloops  to  the  right  division  ol 

*In^hS:^oI.-the  whole  force   on  both  sides  became  en- 
gaged"™toga  suffering  nn.cb  from  ^^e  heavy  fire  of  U^ 
rv,nfiMce.  But  the  fire  of  tb  .  3:"...u    ja  was  .!'.(>  very  destiuc- 
Sve  to  he;     The  Ticonderoga  likewise  gallantly  sustained  he, 
fSuhartof  the  action.    At  half  past  10  o'clock  the  Eagle, 
„«t  hein^  able  to  brine  her  guns  to  bear,  cut  her  cable  and  an- 
choJS^tmo^e7rg!bleplsition,  between,  the  Saratoga  and 
'he  TicSideroga,  where  she  very  much  annoyed  the  enemy.bu 
i^fortunafeirieft  the  Saratoga  exposed  to  a  g^ 
pnemv's  brie.  The  guns  on  the  starboard  side  of  fte  baraloga 
Sne«Sf  all  dismounted,  or  not  manageable,  a^n  anchor , 
wa?kt  Ko^  the  bower-cble  cut,  and  the  ship  winded  with  afresh 
Wsiir on%e  enemy's  ship,  which  ^oorifter  surrendered 
A  broadside  was  then  sprung  to  bear  on  the  brig,  which  sui 

""Ttlopftrat  tSi-rtolt^agle  hadstruc^^^^^^ 
tJebete''Ld  drifted  d^^n  the  line;  the  s'oop  which  wa» 

V  .    .J.  . ^11^ 1 :«£-  .4^»ti/<k  also-     Three  ot  the  enemy  :> 

Sieyr4e?;'S:' th-e-StheVrpuTed  off.  The  American  flo- 
tilla wire  about  obeying  with  alacrity  the  signal  to  follow  them, 


:cpar- 
t  land 
morn- 
[iance, 
rs;  .he 
I'  each 
rrried 
I  force 
which 

heTi- 
:h  car- 
3re  su- 

3unc€d 
ladron, 
chor  in 
British 
works, 
he  Bri- 
Iron,  at 
e  Sara- 
i  one  01 
ision  ot" 
Vision  ol 


iick  some 
hich  was 
i  enemy's 
rican  fto- 
[ow  them. 


UlSTOUY  OF  THE  WAft. 

when  all  the  vessels  were  reported  to  the  commodore  as  in 
a  sinking  state;  it  then  became  necessary  to  annul  the  signal 
to  the  galleys,  and  order  their  men  to  the  pumps.  The  enemy's 
ealleys  thus  got  off  in  a  shattered  condition,  for  there  was  not 
a  moet  in  either  squadron  that  could  stand  to  make  sail  on;  the 
low  er  ringing,  being  nearly  all  shot  away,  hung  down  as  though 
it  had  been  just  placed  over  the  mast  heads.       ,.     ,     ,     ^ 

The  Saratoga  had  fifty-five  round  shot  m  her  hull;  the  Con- 
fiance  one  hundred  and  five.  The  Saratoga  was  twice  set  on 
fire  by  hot  shot  from  the  Confiance.  The  enemy  s  shot  must 
have  principally  passed  just  over  the  heads  of  the  sailors,  as 
there  were  not  twenty  whole  hammocks  in  the  nettings  at  the 
close  of  the  action,  which  lasted  without  intermission  two  hours 

and  twenty  minutes.*  .  „    .        r  t     i. 

This  naval  engagement  was  in  full  view  of  both  armies  at 
PlattsburK.  The  killed  on  board  the  American  squadron 
amounted  to  52,  the  wounded  to  58.  The  killed  on  boatd  the 
captured  vessels  amounted  to  84,  including  eaptam  Downie, 
the  commander  of  the  squadron;  the  wounded  amounted  to 
)  10;  the  loss  on  board  the  British  galleys  has  never  been  as- 
certained. The  number  of  men  in  the  American  squadron 
was  820.  the  British  were  supposed  to  exceed  1000. 

The  batteries  on  shore  were  opened  on  the    American  works 
at  the  same  instant  that  the  engagement  commenced  on  the 
lake,  and  continued  throwing  bomb-shells,   sharpnells,  balls, 
and  Congreve  rockets,  until  sun-set,  when  Uie  bombardment 
ceased,  every  battery  of  the  British  being  silenced,     fhi^ee 
efforts  were  made  to  pass  the  river  at  the  commencement  cf 
the  cannonade  and  bombardmem,  with  a  view  ot  assaulting  the 
works,    and   an   immense   number  of    scahng   ladders   had 
been  prepared  for  that  purpose.     One  of  these  attempts  was 
made  at  the  village  bridge,  another  at  the  upper  bridge,  and  a 
third  at  a  ford  about  three  miles  from  the  works.     The  two 
first  were  repulsed  by  the  regulars;  at  the  ford  by  the  volun. 
teers  and  militia.   Here  the  enemy  suffered  severely  m  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners;  a  considerable  body  havmg  crossed 
the  stream,   all  of  whom  were  either  killed,  taken,  or  driven 
back.    A  whole  company  of  the  76th  regiment  was  here  des« 
troyed,  the  three  lieutenants  and  twenty -seven  men  prisoners, 


*  J  cock,  the  «  bird  ofivar,'*  ivns  in  the  Saratoga,  and  re- 
-»   r. *x.-  „/.^^<rii7<.  du^fntr  the  action.  A  similar 

Circumstance  occurred  in  Fort  M' Henry  during  the  bombard- 

ment. 

S 


202 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


the  captain  and  the  rest  killed.    The  woods  at  this  place  wefe 
very  favourable  to  the  operations  of  the  militia. 

The  further  prosecution  of  the  expedition  having  become 
impracticable  by  the  capture  of  the  fleet,  an  event  totally  un- 
looked-for, at  dusk  the  enemy  withdrew  his  artillery  from  the 
batteries,  and  raised  the  siege;  and  at  nine,  under  the  covei  of 
the  night,  sent  off  in  a  gref\t  hurry  all  the  baggage  he  could 
find  transport  for,  and  also  his  artillery.  At  two,  the  next 
morning,  the  whole  army  precipitately  retreated,  leaving  be- 
hind their  sick  and  wounded;  the  commander  left  a  note  with 
the  surgeon,  requesting  for  them  the  humane  attention  of  gen- 
eral Macomb.  ^  ,    , .    ,      j  j 

Vast  quantities  of  provisions  were  left  behind  and  destroy- 
ed;  also  an  immense  quantity  of  bomb-shells,   cannon-balls, 
erape-shot,   ammunition,  flints,   8tc.  entrenching  tools  of  all 
sor»s,  and  tents  and  marquees.     A  great  deal  was  afterwards 
found  coil cealed  in  the  ponds  and  creeks,   and  buried  in  the 
i^round,  and  a  vast  quantity  was  carried  off  by  the  inhabitants. 
Such  was  the  precipitancy  of  the  retreat  of  the  British,  that 
they  arrived  at  Chazy,  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  before  their 
flight  was  discovered.  The  light  troops,  volunteers,    and  mi- 
litia pursued  immediately;  and   some   of  the  mounted   men 
made  prisoners  of  a  few  of  the  rear  guard.    A  continual  fall 
of  rain,  and  a  violent  storm,  prevented  further  pursuit.     Up- 
wards of  300  deserters  came  in.  ,^'.,^1 
The  British  officers  of  the  army  and  navy  who  were  killed, 
were  buried  with  the  honours  of  war.  The  humane  treatment 
'  of  the  Americans  to  the  wounded,   and  their  generous  and 
polite  attention  to  the  prisoners,  were  gratefully  mentioned  by 
captain  Pring  (who  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  British 
fleet  on  the  fall  of  captain  Downie)  in  his  official  dispatch  to 

the  admiralty.*  .       ,  .  ,   ,    .u  .u 

Thus  W(  re  two  formidable  invasions,  m  which  both  the  sea 


*  The  humane  attention  to  their  firisonersy  for  which  the 
Americana  have  been  /fO  remarkable,  hca  Led  to  most  singular 
conclusions  in  England.  Lord  Liver/iool  said  in  fiarltament, 
that  ''•  in  many  filaces  a  strong  disposition  had  been  f^h^ivn  bij 
the  American  people  to  put  themselves  under  our  protection, 
and  that  their  treatment  of  our  officers  led  to  any  conclusion 
■rathe  than  to  the  beliif  that  they  entertain  any  animosity 
against  this  country,  or  that  they  were  not  fully  per  made  d  that 

r*  ,^  ttrrnv  r.f  '.inhycit'.okfid  aptrression    on  the  part  oj 


IlISrOKY  OK  THE  WAR. 


20: 


and  land  forces  of  Great  Britain  cooperated,  totaUy  trustrated, 
nearly  at  the  same  moment,  while  another  British  squadron 
was  added  to  the  trophies  of  the  American  navy. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  war,  the  British  affected  to 
conciliate  the  New-England  states,    by  exempting  their  hav- 
bours  from  blockade,  by  refraining  from  the  predatory  incur- 
sions  with  which  they  teazed  the  southern  coasts,  and  m  one 
case!  even  proclaiming  that  a  system  of  perfect  ne^^trahty  was 
'o  be  observed    towards  them  by  the  sea  and  land  forces^ot 
Great  Britain.     A  different  system  was  adopted  this  summer. 
The  Dorts  of  New-England  were  included  in  the  swecpmg  sys^ 
tem  of  blockading  the  whole  of  the  American  coast,  repeated 
incursions  were  made  for  the  destruction  of  private  P^iope  ij, 
and  finally  a  large  portion  of  the  District  ot  Maine  was  mvaded 
and  captured  by  a  powerful  force  by  land  and  water. 

Oneof  the  most  remarkable  attacks,  ,^hich  occurred  in  the 
course  of  the  campaign,  was  that  made  by  Sir  1  h^i^as  Hai  dy, 
upon  Stonington,  a  small  village  in  Connecticut,  about  20  mile. 
eL  from  Nlw-London.     On  the  9th  of  August,  con.modoe 
Hardy  appeared  off  the  village  with  one  74,  one  ^^g^^e;  « ^^ 
bomb-ship,  and  two  gun-brigs,  and  immediately  summoned  1  e 
place  to  surrender.     In  the  course  of  the  day,  a  number  o 
flags  passed  to  and  from  the  place,  the  conditions  required 
were,  that  the  family  of  Mr.  Stewart,  late  consul  at  ^^^^  Lou- 
don, should  be  immediately  sent  off  to  ihe  squadron;  tiua   he 
two  uunsin  the  battery  should  be  removed;  and  that  no  toip..- 
does\hould  be  fitted  from,  or  suffered  to  be  m,  the  harbour. 
The  terms  being  sent  over  to  New  London  to  general  ^u^i^ing, 
the  commanding  officer  of  this  district,  he  replied,   that  the 
request  for  the  removal  of  Mr.  Stewart's  iamily   would  be 
fonvarded  to  Washington;  with  the  others  he  would  not  com- 

^'^^In  the  evening,  the  British  commenced  the  attack  with 
rockets  from  one  of  the  brigs:  a  great  number  of  rockets  were 
thrown,  with  little  or  no  effect.  The  brig  then  hauled  i^ 
within  k  short  distance  of  the  battery,  and  kept  up  a  hea^ 
and  well-directed  fire  from  guns  ot  a  very  large  cahbrc,  whicli 
was  returned  by  two  eighteen-pounders  m  the  little  battcy, 
till  their  ammunition  was  expended.  During  this  time  the 
brig  had  grounded.  A  supply  ot  ammunition  havmg  arrived 
from  New  London,  the  fire  from  the  battery  was  re-com- 
menced,  ar.d  with  such  effect,  that  the  brig  slipped  her  cables, 
and  towed  off,  out  of  reach  of  the  eighteen-pounders,  she  hav- 
ing  previously  swung  clear  of  the  ground. 
On  the  lOth,  a  number  oi  flags  passcii: 


I 


204 


HISTORY    OF    THE    WAR. 


I 


! 


I 


insisting  on  bis  former  terms.  On  the  following  morninj];, 
the  last  flag  passed,  with  Hardy's  ultimatum,  at  Ho'  clock, 
viz.:  that  Mrs.  Stewar*:  should  be  put  on  board  by  two  o'clock, 
P.  M.  or  he  would  destroy  the  place.  He,  however,  did  not 
commence  till  3  o'clock,  at  which  time  the  bomb-ship  com- 
menced f  om  two  mortars,  one  a  15  inch  and  the  other  13, 
The  bombardment  continued  from  this  time  till  half  past  8  in 
the  evening,  without  intermission;  the  place  was  several  times 
on  tire,  and  as  often  put  out  by  the  soldiers  and  inhabitants. 

At  day-lighv  on  the  12th,  the  attack  was  re-commenced  from 
the  bomb-ship,  seventy-four,  and  frigate,  and  continued,  \*ith 
little  intermission,  till  half  past  9,  A.  M.  when  the  tide  be- 
gan to  ebb,  and  the  ships  thought  proper  to  haul  otf.  In  the 
afternoon,  they  set  sail,  and  left  the  sound  by  dark'. 

As  commodore  Hardy  has  never  favoured  the  world  with 
his  official  account  of  this  valiant  and    famous  afTair,  we  are 
entirely  at  a  loss  to  conjecture  what  could  have  been  his  mo- 
live.  One  horse,  and  one  g-oo^c,  constituted  the  whole  list  of 
killed  on  shore;  a  lieutenant  and  three  privates,  of  the  militia, 
were  slightly  wounded  by  the  bursting  of  a  shell,  and  two  men 
in  the  battery  by  a  piece  going  off  at  half  charge.    The  town 
was  but  little  damaged,  considering  the  tremendous  cannonade 
and  bombardment  it  sustained:    one  half  of  the  he  iscs  were 
ur.touched,  and  not  one  entirely  demolished,  although  eVery 
ship  threw  its  shot  completely  over  the   point.     Nearly  300 
shells  and  fire-carcasses  were  thrown  into  the  village,  ittaking, 
it  was  estimated,  50  tons  of  metal.  Three  or  four  tons^  of  *hot, 
carcasses,  and  bombs  were  collected  by  the  inhabitants.— 'After 
tl\e  bombardment,  it  was  learnt  from  good  authority,  that  the 
British  had  a  number  killed,   and  several  badly  wounded,,  by 
the  fire  from  the  two  eiL^hteen-pounders  on  shore. 

A  few  weeks  alter  the  declaration  of  war,  sir  J.  C.  Sh€r- 
broke,  governor  of  Nova  Scotia,  &c.  issued  his  proclaitiation, 
ordering  and  directing  all  his  majesty's  subjects,  under  his 
govcifiment,  to  abstain  from  molesting  the  inhabitants  living 
on  the  shores  of  the  United  States,  contiguous  to  Nova  Scotia 
and  New  Brunswick;  and  on  no  account  to  molest  the  goo'U 
and  unarmed  coasting  vessels,  belonging  to  defenceless  inhabi- 
tants on  the  frontiers,  so  long  as  they  shall  abstain  on  their 
part  from  any  act  of  hostility  and  molestation  towards  the  in- 
habitants of  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick;  on  the  ground 
that  predatory  warfare,  carried  on  against  defenceless  inhabi- 
tants, could  ans^ver  no  good  purpose. 

Another  proclamation  of  the  same  date  was  issued  by  gov- 
^yuoY  Sherbroke  and  admiral  Sawyer,  purporting,  that  having 


understood 

disposition 

tain,  it  is  m 

wish  to  dis< 

datory  war 

vate  indivii 

naval  and  h 

inhabitants 

usual  and  £ 

these  prov 

Adding,  th 

should  not 

being  prei 

Though 

if  they  wei 

tions,  yet 

knowledg( 

warfare,  v 

dividuals,' 

to  be  regi 

sally  actei 

,  magnanin 

consonant 

relations, 

nations,  a 

Wheth 

the  inhab 

of  perfect 

about  tw( 

18UJ  th 

squadron 

Britannic 

Eastpc 

Althoug 

revolutic 

settled,  i 

as  withii 

sion  of  l 

and  dec! 

of  alleg] 

fied,  tha 

require( 

unless  s 

longer ] 

emTiicri 


HISTOllY  OF  THE  WAR 


205 


understood  that  the  inhabitants  of  E-^tport  had  n>anlfested  a 
aisDOsitiou  toaroid  hostilities  with  the  subjects  of  Gi  cat  Uri 
SuU  made  known  to  them  and  all  concerned,  that  hom  a 
»Uh  to  discourage,  as  far  as  possible,  every  species  of  depi  e- 
daorywS  which  can  only  have  a  tendency  to  distress  pn- 
vateTndW  duals;  they  have  respectively  '^'"^^  orders  to  the 
^val  a»d  land  forces,  to  respect  the  persons  fnf  P^P^'^J^^^ 

ttliott  departed  fro^  without  due  and   timely  notice 

squadron,  and  formally  taken  possession  of  m  the  name  ot 

^  p'"rnlStuated  on  Moose  Island,  in  Passamaquoddy  bay. 
AlfboTh  b  s  iUnd  ha"  Teen  held  by  the  A.nericans  since  the 
Although  tnis  isiauu  iia»  cnvereie-ntv  has  never  been 

revolutionary  war,  the  'nglu  oH  s  s^^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^^ 

settled,  It  ,'?""S^°"^d',^^^^^^^^  as  it  was  taken  posses, 

as  W'thin  their  ^o^nd^i  V>n«-    ^         ^^^^  ^^^^^^  ^^ 

Bed,  that  »"  Persons  noim  of  seven  days, 

required  to  depart  f.™!" ''"^ 'f  ^™  ^j  ,,  ihem  to  reimin  f<H-  » 
unless  specia  P«'_~^  J^^^St bn  was  also  sent  ta  the  go.- 
longer  Pe>-H;_  .^r^l'^^Tt  ne,  that  the  obiect  of  ihePL-i- 


.r  miir^. 


Cl  limvlib 


»2t 


J',. 


|; 


306 


HISTORY  OP  THE  WAR. 


M- 


ash  government  was  to  obtain  possession  of  the  islands  ol 
Passamaquoddy  bay,  in  consequence  of  their  being  considered 
within  their  boundary  line;  that  they  had  no  intention  of  carry- 
ing  on  offensive  operations  against  the  people  residing  on  the 
cootinent,  unless  their  conduct  should  oblige^h^M  to  resort  to 
4he  measure;  and  in  the  event  of  their  I'ettiMiiing  quiet,  they 
should  not  be  disturbed  either  in  their  proj^lrty  or  persons, 

This  resolution,  however,  of  av6iding  hostile  operations 
ag^nst  the  inhabitslnts  ,of^the  cofetiTrent,  was  adhered  to  for  a 
much  shorter  period  than  the  "  system  of  perfect  heutrality," 
promised  to  be.  observed  towards  the  inhabitants  of  Eastport. 
For  the  British  ministry,  elevated  by  the  success  of  their  arms 
in  Europe,  had  come  to  the  resolution  to  demand  large  and 
important  cessions  of  territory  from  the  United  States.  One 
of  those  cessions  included  that  part  of  the  District  of  Maine 
which  lies  eastward  of  Penobscot  river,  which  they  considered 
desirable  on  account  of  its  securing  to  them  a  direct  commu- 
nication between  Halifax  and  Quebec.  Instructions  were  ac- 
cordingly sent  out  to  lieutenant  general  Sherbroke,  governor  of 
Nova  Scotia,  &c.  to  effect  the  conquest  of  that  part  of  Maine, 
of  which  it  was  intended  to  demand  the  cession.  Towards  the 
end  of  August  an  expedition  sailed  from  Halifax  to  accomplish 
the  object  in  view.  The  troops  were  commanded  by  governor 
Sherbroke,  the  naval  forces  by  rear  admiral  Griffith. 

It  was  governor  Sherbroke's  original  intention  first  to  have 
taken  possession  of  Machias,  and  then  proceed  to  Castine,  on 
the  Penobscot,  but  on  the  30th  of  August  the  fleet  fell  in  with 
the  Rifleman  sloop  of  war,  from  which  information  was  obtain- 
ed that  the  United  States'  frigate  Adams  had  arrived  in  the 
Penobscot;  and  that,  from  the  apprehensions  of  being  attacked 
by  British  cruizers,  if  she  remained  at  the  entrance  of  the  ri- 
ver, she  had  run  up  as  high  as  Hampden,  where  her  guns  had 
been  landed,  and  mounted  on  shore  for  her  protection. 

This  information  determined  governor  Sherbroke  to  proceed 
first  to  the  Penobscot,  in  order  to  arrive  there  before  the  Ame- 
ricans had  time  to  strengthen  themselves.  The  fleet  arrived 
*)ff  Castine  on  the  1st  of  September.  The  small  garrison  in  the 
fort  not  being  able  to  resist  the  overwhelming  force  of  the  Bri- 
tish, discharged  their  guns,  blew  up  the  fort,  and  retired.  The 
enemy  then  took  possession  without  opposition. 

The  following  day  a  considerable  force  was  despatched  up 
the  river  to  Hampden,  in  order  to  capture  or  destroy  the 
Adams.     Captain  Morris,  the  commander,  had  received  intel- 

i! -.   .tl--  J l,„r„..-i  ^C-Ua   n«M'..>a1   rC  tVttx  Av norii t-i/^n  jnfPC.aQ^ 

tl8i<y,  which  was  immediately  forwarded  to  brigadier  general 


Blake,  of 

force  as  c 

As  the  shi 

to  receive 

mediately 

as  would 

mitted  ex 

tants  in  t 

pieces  wi 

ship,  one 

of  battle) 

and  one  < 

hill  and 

were  laid 

ble  them 

time  pre' 

his  posit: 

to  the  d( 

Fp.vou 

within  tl 

Sylph  m 

one  tend 

Bulwark 

rie.  Tro 

opposite 

hers  unl 

troops,  1 

tenant  I 

march, ) 

men. 

Man) 

without 

cient  to 

ed  amol 

orders  1 

in  case 

'      \mtil  la 

Duri 

panics. 

ing,  m 

were  a 

stand  t 

and  fle 


nn 


_-_  alte 
and  fla 


HISTORY    OF   THE  WAR. 


20? 


Blake,  of  the  militia,  with  a  request  that  he  would  direct  such 
force  as  could  be  collected  to  repair  immediately  to  Hampden. 
As  the  ship  was  prepared  for  heaving  down,  and  in  no  situation 
to  receive  her  armament,  the  attention  of  the  seamen  was  im- 
mediately directed  to  the  occupation  of  suc^^tt^s^  shore 
as  would  best  enable  them  to  protect  her.    ®f  ^ff^f*?  ^J"'^.- 
mitted  exertions,  and  the  prompt  assistance  o^l^*»  "^habi- 
unts  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  during  the  Ist^  2d,  nine 
pieces  were  transported  to  a  commanding  emif^ce  near  the 
ship,  one  to -the  place  selected  by  general  Blak»  for  his  line 
of  b^ttlfe^Tourteen  upon  a  wharf  commandmg  the  river  below, 
and  one  on  a  point  covering  the  communication  between  the 
Si  and  wharf  batteries-temporary  platforms  ofW  plank 
.  were  laid,  and  such  other  arrangements  made  as  «<*ould  ena- 
ble them  to  dispute  the  passage  of  a  naval  force.    Want  oi 
dL  prevented  Morris  fJom  improving  all  the  advantages  of 
his  position,  and  he  was  compelled  to  leave  his  ^e^r  an^i^^^^^^^ 
to  the  defence'of  the  militia,  in  case  of  attack  by  land  troops. 

F';o^ed  by  a  fresh  breeze,  the  British  had  advanced^^^^ 
within  three  miles  of  the  Adams  at  sun-set  on  the  2d,  withthe 
Sylph  mounting  22,  and  Peruvian  18  guns,  and  one  transport, 
one  tender,  and  ten  barges,  manned  with  seamen  from  the 
Bulwark  and  Dragon,  under  the  command  of  commodore  B^^^^ 
rie  Troops  were  landed,  under  the  command  of  colonel  John, 
opposite  their  shipping,  without  any  opposition,  their  num- 
b^^s  unknown,  but  supposed  to  be  about  3  50  To  oPpose  these 
troops,  about  370  militia  were  then  collected,  assisted  by  lieu 
tenant  Lewis,  of  the  United  States  arUllery,  who,  by  a  forced 
mLch,hJ  arrived  from  Castinc,  with  his  detachment  of  28 

"'Many  of  the  militia  were  without  arms,  and  most  of  them 
without  any  ammunition,  and,  as  the  seamen  were  rely  sum- 
dent  to  min  the  batteries,  the  ship's  muskets  ^^ere  distribut^ 
ed  amof  g  the  militia;  the  sick  were  sent  ^^^oss  the  creek  w^^^^^ 
orders  for  such  as  were  able,  to  secure  themselves  in  the  woods, 
in  case  of  defeat.  These  arrangements  were  not  concluded 
'      until  late  on  the  evening  of  the  2d. 

Durinc  the  night,  the  militia  were  remforced  by  three  com- 
pannes  The  BHtiJh  were  also  landed,  and  at  five  next  morn- 
inK,  marched  towards  Hampden,  in  front  of  which  the  militia 
wf;.Tdvantageously  postei.  But  they  wei^  "«'' j^^^  ^^7;^,^ 
stand  the  attack  of  the  British  ^eguars;  they  soon  gave  way 
and  fled  in  confusion.  Captain  Morris  and  his  «ailor«  had  now 
Lnlternaiive  but  precipitate  retreat  or  captivity,  then  real 
und"fl"anks  being  entirely  exposed,  while  tiicy  were  Mc-.uiu.v 


2G5 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


of  any  other  defence  on  that  side  than  their  pikes  and  cutlasses. 
Lieutenant  W  Isworth  was  therefore  ordered  to  spike  the 
Kuns,  and  retire  across  the  bridge,  which  was  done  m  perfect 
order,  the  marines  under  lieutenant  Watson  covering  the  rear. 
The  remainderof  Morris'  force  was  at  the  same  time  order- 
ed  to  spike  the  guos  at  the  lower  battery,  fire  the  ship,  and 
then  join  their  companions,  across  the  creek. 

Before  these  last  orders  were  fully  executed,  the  enemy  ap- 
peared on  the  hill  from  which  the  militia  had  retired,  and  the 
seamen  were  consequently  exposed  to  their  fire  for  a  short 
time  while  completing  them.  When  they  commenced  their 
retreat,  it  was  found  to  be  immpossible  to  gam  the  bridge;  but 
they  succeeded  in  fording  the  creek,  and  rejoinmg  their  com- 
panions, without  receiving  the  slightest  injury  from  the  fire  ot 

^TheTs^s  of  the  militia  was  estimated  by  the  British  at  30  or 
40  killed,  wounded,  and  mf««i«5-,  while  their  loss  was  only  one 
killed,  8  wounded,  and  1  missing.  Captain  Morris  loss  was 
only  a  seaman  and  a  marine  made  prisoner.  He  estimates  the 
loss  of  the  naval  force  opposed  to  him  at  8  or  10  killed,  and 
from  40  to  50  wounded,  principally  by  the  eighteen-pounder 
under  charge  of  lieutenant  Lewis,  of  the  United  States  artil- 

Machias  being  now  the  only  post  remaining  between  the 
Penobscot  and  Passamaquoddy  bay,  a  brigade  was  sent  against 
it  from  Castine.  It  was  taken  without  resistance,  and  colonel 
Pilkineton,  the  British  commander,  was  making  arrangements 
to  proceed  into  the  interior  of  the  country,  when  he  received 
a  letter  from  brigadjer-general  Brewer,  commanding^  the  d is. 
trict,  engaging  that  the  militia  within  the  county  of  Washmg- 
ton  should  not  bear  arms,  or  in  any  way  serve  against  his  Bri- 
tannic  majesty  during  the  war.  A  similar  offer  havmg  been 
made  by  the  civil  officers  and  principal  citizens  of  the  county, 
a  cessation  of  arms  was  agreed  upon.  Thus  was  tllis  large 
district  of  country  from  the  Penobscot  eastward,  taken  posses- 
sion  of  almost  without  resistance. 

Ravine  now  reviewed  the  most  important  transactions  ot 
the  campaign  on  our  maritime  frontier,  we  will  next  direct  our 
attention  to  the  upper  lakes  in  the  north-west.  After  the 
capture  of  the  British  fleet  on  lake  Erie,  in  l8lS,an  expedi- 
tion against  the  important  post  of  Michillimackmac  had  been 
contemplated;  but  the  lateness  of  the  season  prevented  its 
bcintj  carried  into  effect.  Preparations  were  therefore^made 
the  following  summer,  and  an  expeuiUon  saiica  iruni  i>-ci:uiw 
against  the  fort  on  t^.M.9iLXuly5,18l4j  the  troops  under  the 


lllsrORK  0»  THE  W*B. 


209 


command  of  colonel  Cfbgto,  the  naval  force,  under  capt^B 

Sl>      The  difficulties  encountered  on  the  flats  of  lake  St. 

Cbiir  where  there  was  only  eight  feet  water,  and  the  rapid 

current  of  the  river,  prevented  the  squadron  from  reaching 

ake    Huron  till  the  ?2th.     Thence  the  «q»=»l"."  ^''^rt'  o 

rnursffor  Matchadash  bay,  and  used  every  possible  effort  to 

tainU,  but  without  effect.'   Not  being  able  to  find  a  pilot  for 

1,,  .mfrenuented  nartof  the  lake,  and  finding  it  filled  with 

idTLTs unkenWt,  which  mist  inevitably  have  pmved 

he  des'Wtion  of  the  fleet  had  they  persisted,  it  being  impos- 

sHtleto'^void  them  on  account  of  the  impenetrable  fog  with 

wrh  the  lake  is  almost  continually  covered;  and  findmg  the 

rr^already  grow ing  short  of  provisions,  it  was  »gre«d  be. 

:in'coTo7el'crogh'an  and  t'«,-'y'7f°r,,^rt I"  h'e 
•  I  J  f  c»  Trtcpnh'si  near  the  head  of  the  laKC,  wnerc  mc 
Brit 'si.  had  a  smS  ^strbUshment,  and  here  they  arrived  on 
.V,"  ,™v.  The  fort  beinei  found  deserted  was  destroyed, 
''whils't  the  squad'ron  Remained  wind-bound  at  St.  toeph  s 
a  detachment  of  infantry  and  artillery,  under  ™»J°''  Hol""^ 
a  ut,i<i»,iiiii    ■.  lonnrhes.  under  the  commano  of  ueu- 

was  dispatched  in  the    aunches,  una         the  establishment  at 

= ji;,rf rs^s  Sss '*  » 

waters  into  lake  Huron.     T  hese  talis  a™^         ^  ' , 

canal,  by  which  8°° t  ^^th'^.^e  wh  ch  t^ve^Hie  o^^ 
^^  rtTu^res  "uiSer  UeutenanlTu^er,  were  rowed  night 
and^^rt?  drs^nce  ^^^^^^^^^^  l^"^ 
rent,  information  of  .'h*'^  aPP•»ac^^5•=^fIXns  in  theV  light 
two  hours  befere  their  arrival,  cam^<*  1?^  'iZ  %.m  the  British 
canoes.    No  resi,tan<;e  7» '"^''^f ''^=„^°"\th  diem  all  the 
and  Indians  made  their  ««^aP''Jf"/Xhe",  fee.    Turnet-, 
light  valuable  articles,  '""^J"  ,f^?*'^;'''ftnrtlntly  proceeded 
with  his  sailors  and  a  few  of  the  '"»"?y' "  5„din^  he  couM 
to  the  ,'>-d  of  the  rapi  .,  -h-  ,^^  ,„ 

rel?„netA'i:s:^liuttledhe..J_«,^^^^^^^^^ 


210 


HISTORY  01?  THE  WAR. 


effort  failed  to  get  her  through  the  falls  in  safety.  She  bilged 
oD  her  passage,  and  being  immediately  run  on  shore,  was 
burnt.  A  part  of  the  public  property  was  brought  away,  and 
the   remainder  destroyed.      All   private   property   was   res. 

pect^d. 

On  the  return  of  the  launches  to  St.  Joseph's,  the  squadron 
proceeded  to  Michillimackinac,  where  they  arrived  on  the 
26ih.  This  place  is,  by  nature,  a  second  Gibraltar,  being  a 
high  rock,  inaccessible  on  every  side,  except  the  west:  from 
the  landing  to  the  heights  is  nearly  two  miles,  through  a  very 
thick  wood.  Finding  that  the  British  had  strongly  fortified 
the  height  overlooking  the  old  fort^  Croghan  at  once  despaired 
of  being  able,  with  his  small  force,  to  carry  the  place  by  storm. 
He  therefore  determined  to  land  and  establish  himself  on 
some  favourable  position*  whence  he  would  be  enabled  to  an- 
noy the  enemy  by  gradual  and  slow  approaches,  under  cover 
of  his  artillery,  of  which  he  was  superior  to  the  enemy  In  point 
of  metal.  He  was  also  induced  to  adopt  this  step  by  the  sup- 
position, that  it  would  either  induce  the  enemy  to  attack  him 
in  his  strong  holds,  or  force  the  Indians  and  Canadians,  the 
enemy's  most  efficient,  and  only  disposable  force,  off  the  island, 
as  they  would  be  very  unwilling  to  remain  after  a  permanent 
footing  should  be  taken. 

Unfavourable  weather  prevented  the  landing  of  the  troops 
till  the  4th  of  August,  when  the  whole  force  was  disembarked 
on  the  west  end  of  the  island,  under  cover  of  the  guns  of  the 
shipping.  The  line  being  quickly  formed,  advanced  toward? 
a  field,  which  had  been  recommended  as  a  suitable  place  foi 
a  camp,  by  persons  who  had  lived  several  years  on  the  island. 
Hardly  had  the  troops  arrived  at  the  edge  of  the  field,  before 
intelligence  was  conveyed  to  colonel  Croghan  that  the  enemy 
was  a  short  distance  ahead,  and  in  a  few  seconds  a  fire  of  shot 
and  shells  opened  on  the  Americans,  from  a  battery  of  four 
pieces. 

The  enemy's  position  was  well  selected;  his  line  reached 
along  the  edge  of  the  woods,  at  the  farther  extremity  of  the 
field,  and  was  covered  by  a  temporary  breastwork.  On  re- 
connoitering  the  enemy,  Croghan  determined  to  change  his 
position,  which  was  now  two  lines,  the  militia  forming  the 
front.  He  accordingly  ordered  the  battalion  of  regulars  un- 
der major  Holmes,  to  advance  to  the  right  of  the  militia,  thus 
to  outflank  the  enemy,  and  by  a  vigorous  effort  gain  his  rear. 

ISUi    Dciuic     Zulu     lUuYciuCtiL     cOUiU     QC     vXCiJUlViU,    U     iiio      »VU3 

opened  by   some   Indians  posted  in  a  thick  wood  near  the 
American  right,  which  proved  fatal  to  major  Holmes,  and 


severely  */c 

unlucky  fir 

most  valua 

sion,  from  i 

to  recover 

Finding 

impenetrab 

be  made  bj 

charge,  th 

enemy  bac 

by  the  Ind 

a  light  pie 

larly  gallec 

or  distance 

The  pos 

was  found 

with  thick 

determine* 

of  an  ener 

from  numi 

ordered  a 

effected. 

The  lo 

wounded, 

ascert?\ne 

Michill 

measures 

ting  off  h 

companiei 

to  join  g 

squadron 

order  to 

that  quar 

with  the  ] 

lake  Eric 

which  is 

with  lake 

ron  by  m 

Simcoe  a 

cations  w 

son,  on  J 

squadron 


\ 


■"■&■''      "  " 

were  imi 
river  and 


HiSTOllY  OF  THE  WAR. 


2H 


I 


severely  ^'ounded  captain  Desha,  the  next  officer  in  rank.  This 
unlucky  fire,  by  depriving  the  battalion  of  the  services  of  its 
most  valuable  officers,  threw  that  part  of  the  line  into  confu- 
sion, from  which  the  best  exertions  of  the  officers  were  not  able 

to  recover  it.  r         • 

Finding  it  impossible  to  gain  the  enemy's  left,  owing  to  the 
impenetrable  thickness  of  the  woods,  a  charge  was  ordered  to 
be  made  by  the  regulars  immediately  against  the  front.    This 
charge,  though  made  in  some  confusion,  served  to  drive  the 
enemy  back  in  the  woods,  whence  an  annoying  fire  was  kept  up 
by  the  Indians.    Lieutenant  Morgan  was  now  ordered  up  with 
a  iieht  piece  to  assist  the  left,  which,  at  this  tinfc,  was  particu- 
larly galled;  its  fire  soon  forced  the  enemy  to  retire  to  a  great- 
er distance.  .    , 
The  position  contemplated  for  the  camp  being  now  occupied, 
was  found  to  be  by  no  means  tenable,  from  being  interspersed 
with  thickets,  and  every  way  intersected  by  ravines.   Croghan 
determined,  therefore,  no  longer  to  expose  his  force  to  the  fire 
of  an  enemy  deriving  every  advantage  which  could  be  obtained 
from  numbers  and  a  knowledge  of  the  position,  and  theretore 
ordered  a  retreat  towards  the  shipping,  which  was  immediately 

effected. 

The  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  affair  was  13  killed,  51 
wounded,  and  2  missing.   The  loss  of  the  British  has  not  been 

ascertained.  , 

Michillimackinac  being  thus  found  impregnable  by  assault, 
measures  were  adopted  for  starving  it  into  submission,  by  cut- 
tinff  off  its  supplies.     The  whole  of  the  troops,  except  three 
companies,  were  therefore  dispatched  in  two  of  the  vessels, 
to  join  general  Brown  on  the   Niagara,  and  the  rest  of  the 
squadron  directed  their  course  to  the  east  side  of  the  lake,  in 
order  to  break  up  any  of  the  establishments  of  the  enemy  m 
that  quarter.     The  only  practicable  lines  of  commumcation 
with  the  lower  country,  while  the  Americans  were  masters  ot 
lake  Erie,  was  with   Montreal  by  Outawas,  or  Grand  river, 
which  is  connected  by  means  of  a  portage  or  carrying-place, 
with  lake  Nipissing,  which  latter  empties  itself  mto  lake  Hu- 
ron by  means  of  French  river;  or  with  York,  by  means  of  lake 
Simcoe  and  Nautauwasaga  river.     The  first  of  these  commum- 
cations  was  learnt  to  be  impracticable  during  the  present  sea- 
son, on  account  of  the  marshy  state  of  the  portages.     The 
squadron  therefore  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Nautauwa- 
J„o    «,h.re  \i  arrived  on  the  l3th  of  August,  and  the  troops 
we're  immediately  disembarked  on  the  peninsula  tormed  Dy  the 
liver  and  lake;,  for  the  purpose  of  fixing  a  camp. 


If 


212 


UISTORY  OP  T»R  WAH. 


On  reconnoiteritig  this  position,  a  schooner,  Oic  only  one 
possessed  by  the  British  in  this  quarter,  was  discovered  m 
the  river  a  f^w  hundre^^  yards  above,  under  cover  t)f  a  block- 
house  ejected  on  a  commanding  situation  on  the  opposite 
shore.     On  the  following  morning,  a  nre  was  opened  by  the 
shipping  on  the  block-house  for  a  few  minutes,  but  with  little 
effect    owing  to  a  thin  wood  intervening  to  obscure  the  view. 
Two  'howitzers,    however,    being  landed,  they   commenced 
throwing  shells;  and  in  a  few  minutes  one  of  the  shells  burst 
in  the  block-house,  which  shortly  after  blew  up  his  magazine, 
allowing  the  enemy  barely  time  to  make  his  escape     The  ex- 
plosion  set  fire  to  a  train  which  had  been  laid  for  the  destruc, 
tion  of  the  vessel,  and  in  an  instant  she  was  m  flames.     Ihe 
necessary  preparations  had  been  made  by  commodore  Smclair 
for  getting  on  board  of  her;  but  frequent  and  heavy  explosions 
below  deck  made  it  too  great  a  risk  to  attempt  saving  her.— 
She  was,  therefore,  with  her  cargo,  entirely  consumed.  - 

Colonel  Croghan  not  thinking  ii  advisable  to  fortify  and  gar- 
rison Nautauwasaga,  the  communication  from  York  being  so 
short  and  convenient,  that  any  force  left  there  might  easily  be 
cut  off  in  the  winter,  the  Scorpion  and  Tigress  were  left  to 
blockade  it  closely,  until  the  season  should  become  too  boister- 
ous for  boat  transportation,  and  the  remainder  of  the  squadron 
returned  to  Detroit*    But  this  blockade,  which  had  it  been 
properly  enforced,  would  probably  soon  have  made  a  bloodless 
conquest  of  MichilUmackinac,  was  soort  put  an  end  to  by  the 
capture  of  both  the  schooners.     The  Tigress  was  carried  by 
boarding  from  the  enemy's  boats  on  the  mght  of  the  ^d  ot  Sep- 
tember, and  the  Scorpion  was  surprised  and  taken  by  the  1 1- 
^ress,  on  tlie  6th,  at  the  dawn  of  day.    And  ihus,  by  the  negli- 
gence of  the  officers,  was  the  capture  of  Michilimackmac 
completely  frustrated  for  this  season.    ^  ,  t  ^-  «.  o 

The  forces  employed  in  the  war  with  the  Creek  Indians,  a 
part  of  whose  operations  has  already  been  detailed  in  the  tor- 
mer  part  of  this  volume,  were  the  Tennessee  militia,  under  ma. 
ior-p^neral  Jackson,  whose  head-quarters  were  at  Fort  Stroth- 
er,  upon  the  Coosee  river;  the  Georgia  militia,  under  brigadier- 
eeneral  Floyd,  whose  operations  were  directed  from  the  Cha- 
fahouchie;  and  u  body  of  volunteers,  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
countrv  of  the  Creeka,  under  the  command  ol  biigadier-gene. 
ral  Claiborne.     The  settlements  of  the  hostile  Creeks  were 
«,.w;,^aiir  on  and  between  the  Tallapoosee  and  Coosee  rivers. 
Here  stood  tlie  towns  of  Tallushatches,  I'alledega,  ana  mai- 
bee,  which  eave  their  names  to  the  battles  so  called,  whicb 
have  already  been  noticed.    The  town  of  Autossee  stood  on 
the  left  bank  of  the  Tallapoosee. 


Notwitl 

tained  by 

dians,  am 

people  w 

marched 

Decembe 

their  tow 

at  no  grej 

bigbee,  i 

town,  cal 

This  pla 

body  of  t1 

bfed  chi 

war  by  t! 

When 

for  the  s 

morning 

Their  c 

guide  tl 

the  atta< 

a  small 

right  CO 

vigorou 

their  a] 

the  cen 

my  wei 

casting 

Thirl 

ing  fi'o^ 

part  of 

V,  A  pi 

the  GOV 

rounde 

preach 

the  Ini 

«ions, 

my,  fl; 

were  ( 

200  h( 

men  a 

the  tc 

menci 

curivy 

Int 

letter 


HISXOnY  OF  THE  WAU. 


210 


Notwithstanding  the  decisive  victoneB  that  have  been  ob- 
tained by  the  American  troops,  and  the  heavy  losses  of  the  In- 
dTans,  and  the  destruction  of  their  principal  towns,  this  brave 
MOP le  were  still  unsubdued.     General  Claiborne,  therefore 
Schema  detachment  from  Fort  Claiborne,  on  the    3th  o 
December,   1813,  with  a  view  to  the  further  destruction  ot 
Uieir  towns.    Fort  Claiborne  is  situated  on  the  Alibama  nver, 
at  no  great  distance  above  where,  by  its  junction  with  the  Tom- 
wZf,  it  forms  the  Mobile  river.    The  object  in  view  was  a 
town,  called  by  the  Creeks,  Eccanachaca,  or  Holy  Ground— 
TOs  place,  Claiborne  was  informed,  was  occupied  by  a  large 
bocW  of  the  enemy,  under  the  command  of  Wealherford,  a  ha  1- 
bred  chief,  who  commanded  the  Indians  that  commenced  the 
war  by  the  dc  struction  of  the  garrison  at  Fort  Mims. 

When  about  30  miles  from  the  town,  a  stockade  was  erec  ed 
for  the  security  of  the  sick  and  the  heavy  baggage,  and  on  the 
morning  of  the  22d  the  troops  resumed  their  line  of  march. 
Th™  course  lay  chieHy  through  woods,  without  a    ract  to 
iufdc  them     On  the  morning  of  the  23d,  the  disposition  for 
?he  attack  was  made.    The  troops  advanced  in  three.columns, 
a  smaU  body  awing  as  a  corps  de  resene      About  noon  the 
riX  column  came  in  view  of  the  town,  and  was  immediately 
IXorousIv  attacked  by  the  enemy,  who  had  been  appr^ed  of 
S  Iproach,  and  had  chosen  their  field  of  action.     Before 
the  cen?^e  o'    1  e  left  could  come  generally  nto  action,  the  ene- 
my were  repulsed,  and  flying  in  all  directions,  many  of  them 

"SvTJieCreekrwere  killed  in  this  rencontre,  and,  judg- 
ing from  appearances,  many  were  wounded.     The  loss  on  the 
a«  of  the  Americans  was  one  killed  and  six  wounded. 
'a  pufsuifwas  immediately  orderedi  but,  from  the  na  ure  of 
the  CO  n uy,  nothing  was  effected.    The  town  was  nearly  sur- 
-ounded    V  swamps  and  deep  ravines,  which  rendered  the  ap- 
;,^"cho    the  troops  difftcuU,  while  it  facilitated  the  escape  of 
Zt^L.     m  th'e  town  was  found  a  '-?-,f  ^;;!  X  of  P-- 
sions   and  immense  property  ol  various  kinds,  which  the  ene 

?v«e  desfroyed,  together  with  the  village,  consisting  of  about 
200  house?  The  Indians  had  barely  time  to  remove  their  wo- 
men and  children  across  the  Alibama,  which  runs  near  where 
^f  mwn  s  ood  The  town  had  been  built  since  the  com- 
mLcerent  o?tsaUties,  and  was  established  as  a  place  of  se- 

_!.._  r-„  *i,^  :r.UoK;tants  of  several  viliaees. 
'"in  rt'e^i^useof  Weatherford,  the  commander,  was  found  a 
letter  from  the  Spanish  governor  cf  Pensacola  to  the  leader  ot 


A\ 


214, 


HISTORY  OF  TIIK  WAR. 


the  Creeks,  stating,  that  he  had  presented  theii-  request  ot 
arms  and  munitions  to  the  captain-general  in  Havanna,  but  had 
as  yet  received  no  answer.  He  was  in  hopes,  however,  he 
btated,  of  receiving  them;  and  as  soon  as  that  took  place,  they 
should  be  informed. 

The  following  day  was  occupied  by  the  troops  in  destroying 
a  town  consisting  of  60  houses,  eight  miles  higher  up  the 
river,  and  in  taking  and  destroying  the  boats  of  the  enemy. — 
At  this  place  three  Indians  of  some  distinction  were  killed. 

The  term  of  service  of  the  volunteers  having  now  generally 
expired,  they  marched  to  Fort  Stoddart,  in  order  to  be  paid 

ok 

Soon  after  the  battle  of  Talledega,  genei-al  Jackson's  army 
had  been  almost  entirely  broken  up  by  the  expiration  of  the 
time  of  the  militia,  but  on  the  14th  of  January,  he  was  joined 
at  Fort  Strother  by  about  800  new-raised  volunteers  from  Ten- 
nessee, making  his  whole  force,  exclusive  of  Indians,  930. 
The  term  of  service  cf  the  volunteers  being  short,  and  the 
men  full  of  ardour  to  meet  the  enemy,  he  determined  immedi- 
ately to  employ  them  in  active  service;  and  to  this  he  was  par- 
ticularly induced  by  the  information,  that  the  Indians  were  con- 
centrating with  the  view  of  attacking  Fort  Armstrong,  a  posi- 
tion about  50  miles  above  Fort  Strother,  on  the  sanne  river, 
and  also  by  his  desire  to  make  a  diversion  in  favour  of  general 
Floyd,  who  was  about  making  a  movement  to  the  Tallapoosee 
river,  near  its  junction  with  the  Coosee. 

The  volunteers  therefore  were  marched  across  the  river  the 
day  after  their  arrival,  and  on  the  next  day,  Jackson  followed 
with  the  remainder  of  his  force,  consisting  of  the  artillery  comr 
pany  with  one  six-pounder,  one  company  of  infantry  of  48  men, 
two  companies  of  spies,  of  about  30  men  each,  and  a  company 
of  volunteer  officers,  headed  by  general  Coffee,  who  had  been 
abandoned  by  his  men,  under  some  misapprehension  as  to  their 
term  of  service,  and  who  still  remained  in  the  field  waiting  the 
order-?  of  the  government. 

On  the  17th,  the  troops  took  up  the  line  of  march,  and  on 
the  night  of  the  I8th  encamped  at  Talledega  Fort,  where  they 
were  joined  by  between  200  and  300  friendly  Indians;  65  of 
whom  were  Cherokees,  the  remainder  Creeks.  On  the  20th, 
they  encamped  at  Enotachopco,'  a  small  Hillibee  village,  about 
12  miles  from  Emuckfau.  Here  Jackson  began  to  perceive 
vf^.v  nlainlv  how  little  knowledge  the  spies  had  of  the  coun- 
try, of  the  'sit»iation  of  the  enemy,  or  of  the  distance  the  army 
\vas  from  them.  The  insubordination  of  the  new  troops,  and 
the  want  of  skill  in  most  of  their  officers,  also  becume  more 


and  more 

not  dimir 

guards,  s 

the  spies, 

On  the 

tachopco, 

and  aboui 

the  enem 

evening 

much  bei 

arrived  v 

in^  late  i 

noitre  th 

best  scit 

square, 

made  th 

tack.     A 

three  of 

the  next 

that  the 

af  about 

seemed 

these  sp 

assured 

dren,  ai 

or  attae 

thing  re 

meditati 

and  att£ 

Whil 

about  6 

on  the  1 

tinned 

about  b 

pursue, 

a!Kl  bel 

of  infan 

eral  C< 

privatei 

ix>uted 

pursuit 

sittUgni 

The 

-^^0  m< 

but  wi 


HISTORY  Oy  THE  WAR. 


215 


930. 


and  more  apparent.  But  their  ardour  to  meet  the  enemy  was 
not  rminishedi  and  Jackson  had  a  sure  reliance  upon  the 
guards,  and  the  company  of  old  volunteer  officers,  and,  upon 

the  spies,  in  all  about  125.  

On  the  morning  of  the  2 1st,  the  troops  marched  from  Eno- 
tachopco,  as  direct  as  possible  for  the  head  of  the  Tallapoosec 
Ind  Xui  2  o'clock,  P  M.  the  spies  h.ving  discovered  two  of 
the  enemy,  endeavoured  to  overtake  them,  but  failed.     In  the 
evening  a  large  trail  was  perceived,  which  led  to  a  new  road, 
much  beaten  Ind  lately  travelled.   Knowing  that  he  must  have 
arrived  within  the  neighbourhood  of  a  strong  force,  and  it  be- 
ins  late  in  the  day,  Jackson  determined  to  encamp,  and  recou- 
no!tr^  the  country  in  the  night.     He  accordingly  chose  the 
best  scite  the  country  would  admit,  cccamped  in  a  hollovi 
square?  sent  out  spies'and  pickets,  doubled  the  centmels,  and 
made  the  necessary  arrangements  before  dark   or  a  mght  at- 
tack.    About  10  o'clock  at  night  one  of  the  pickets  fired  at 
three  of  the  enemy,  and  killed  one,  but  he  was  not  found  untu 
Ihe  next  day      At     1 ,  the  spies  returned  with  the  information , 
Sat  there  was  a  large  encampment  of  Indians  at  the  distance 
of  aliout  three  miles,  who,  from  their  whooping  and  dancng, 
seemed  to  be  appn.ed  of  the  approach  o  the  troops.     One-<,f 
these  spies,  an  Indian  in  whom  Jackson  had  great  confidence, 
assured  him  that  they  were  carrying  off  their  women  and  chil- 
dren, and  that  their  warriors  would  euher  make  their  escape 
Ta  tack  hSm  before  day.     Being  prepared  at  all  !«'"''."«- 
thins  remained  to  be  done  but  to  await  their  approach,  if  thej 
medlltcTan  attack,  or  to  be  ready,  if  they  did  not,  to  pursue 
nnd  attack  them  at  day-light. 

mUe  the  troops  were  in  this  state  of  readiness,  the  enemy, 
about  6  o'clock  in  the  morning,  commenced  a  v'gor<ws  attack 
on  the  left  flank,  which  was  as  vigorously  met;  the  action  con- 
r"nued  to  rage  on  that  flank,  and  on  the  left  of  the  rear,  for 
about  half  an  hour.  So  soon  as  it  became  Ught  enough  to 
nu^sueV  tl  e  lef"wing,  having  sustained  the  heal  of  the  action, 
r«d  being  some  what^lveakened,  was  reinforced  by  a  comply 
of  nfantrv,  and  was  ordered  and  led  on  to  the  charge  by  gen- 
eri  Coffeerwho  was  well  supported  by  all  the  ofhcers  and 
privaws  who  composed  that  line.  The  enemy  was  completely 
routed  at  every  point,  and  the  friendly  Indians  joimngm  the 
Imrsuit,  they  Jere  chased  about  two  miles  with  considerable 

'' The'chase  being  over,  general  Coffee  was  'detached  with 
400  men  and  all  the  Indian  force  to  bum  the  enc'""Pn|0'Jt; 
but  with  orders,  if  it  was  fortified,  not  to  attack  it,  until  the 


IMH 


216 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


artillery  could  be  sent  forward  to  reduce  it.     Oii  viewing  tiib 
encampment  and  its  strength,  the  generalthought  it  most  pru- 
dent to  return,  and  guard  the  artillery  thither.     The  wisdom 
of  this  step  was  soon  discovered-— in  half  an  hour  after  his 
returm  to  camp,  a  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  made  its 
appearance  on  Jackson's  right  flank,  and  commenced  a  brisk 
lire  on  a  party  of  men,  who  had  been  on  picket  guard  the  night 
before,  and  were  then  in  search  of  the  Indians  they  had  fired 
upon.    General '  Coffee  immediately   requested  200   men  to 
turn  their  left  flank,  which   were   accordingly  ordered;   but, 
through  some  mistake,  not  more  than  54  followed  him,  among 
whom  were  the  old  volunteer  officers.     With  these,  however, 
he  immediately  commenced  an  attack  on  the  left  flank  of  the 
enemy,  and  Jackson  ordered  200  of  the  friendly  Indians  ta  fall 
in  upon  their  right  flank,  and  co-operate  with  general  Coffee. 
This  order  was  promptly  obeyed,  and  what  was  expected  was 
realized.    The  enemy  l)ad  intended  the  attack  on  the  right  as 
a  feint,  and,  expecting  to  direct  all  Jackson's  attention  thither, 
meant  to  attack  him  agu in,  and  with  their  main  force,  oil  the 
left  flank,  which  they  had  hoped  to  find  weakened  and  m  disor- 
der.    But  they  were  disappointed j  for  Jackson  had  ordered 
the  left  flank  to  remain  firm  to  its  place,  and  the  moment  the 
alarm  gun  was  heard  in  that  quarter,  he  repaired  thither,  and 
ordered  captain  Ferrill,  part  of  the  reserve,  to  support  it.^  The 
whole  line  met  the  approach  of  the  enemy  with  astonishing 
intrepidity,  and  having  given  a  few  fires,  they  forthwith  charged 
with  great  vigour.     The  effect  was  immediate  and  inevitable. 
The  enemy  fled  with  precipitation,  and  were  pursued  to  a  con- 
siderable distance,  by  the  left  flank  and  the  friendly  Indians, 
with  a  galling  and  destructive  fire.  ,.         .  , 

In  the  mean  time  general  Coffee  was  contending  with  a  su- 
perior force  of  the  enemy.  The  Indians  who  had  been  order- 
ed to  bis  support,  and  who  had  set  out  for  this  purpose,  hear- 
ing the  firing  on  the  left,  had  retwrned  to  that  quarter,  and 
when  the  enemy  were  routed  there,  entered  into  the  chase. 
That  beirg  now  over,  100  of  them  were  sent  to  the  relief  ot 
Coffee,  and  as  soon  as  they  reached  him,  the  charge  was  niade 
and  the  enemy  routed;  they  were  pursued  about  three  miles, 
and  45  of  them  slain,  who  were  found.  General  Coffee  was 
wounded  in  the  body,  and  his  aid-de-camp,  A.  Donaldson, 
killed,  together  with  three  others.  ^   ^ 

The  camp  was  now  fortified,  in  order  that  the  troops  might 
Ke  th|.  better  oredarcd  to  repel  any  attack  which  might  be 
niad'e  the  following  night,  and  next  mornmg  the  troops  set 
out  on  their  retuni  to  Fort  Sirother,  general  Jackson  not 


deeming  it 
city  of  sup 
ty  of  the  I 
retreat  coi 
were  fortu 
having  pas 
camp  WAS 
the  mornii 
Jackson  hi 
he  expectc 
another  pc 
men  accor 
the  mornii 
it  his  caut 
interior  of 
as  well  as 
off  in  regi 
cr^k,at  2 
ately  on  i 
issued^  po 
formed  in 
the  flanks 
halt  and 
given. 

The  fro 
the  woun* 
the  creek 
chosen  tl 
cut  off  th< 
their  pivo 
in  upon  tl 
raortificat 
a  few  gu 
rear-guar 
was  disa 
greater  p 
men>  whc 
ground  a 
then  left 
rear-guat 
pany  of  s 
expectati 
artillery  < 
'>vsiB  couri 
to  the  to] 


HISTOWY    Of    THE   WAB. 


217 


deemine:  it  prudent  to  proceed  farther,  on  account  of  the  scar- 
city of  supplies,  the  number  of  his  wounded,  and  the  probabiU- 
tv  of  the  Indians  receiving  reinforcements  from  below.  1  he 
retreat  commenced  at  10  o'clock  on  the  23d,  and  the  troops 
were  fortunate  enough  to  reach  Enotachopco  before  night, 
havine  passed  a  dangerous  defile  without  interruption,  i  be 
camp  w^s  again  fortified.  Having  another  defile  to  pass  in 
the  morning,  across  a  deep  creek,  and  between  two  hills,  which 
Jackson  had  viewed  with  attention,  as  'le  passed  on,  and  where 
he  expected  he  might  be  attacked,  he  determined  to  pass  it  at 
anotlier  point,  and  gave  directions  lo  the  guide  and  latigue- 
men  accordingly.  The  general's  expectation  of  an  attack  in 
the  morning  was  increased  by  the  signs  of  the  mght,  and  with 
it  his  caution.  Before  the  wounded  were  removed  from  the 
interior  of  the  camp,  the  front  and  rear-guards  were  filmed, 
as  well  as  the  right  and  left  columns,  and  the  centre  moved 
off  in  regular  order,  leading  down  a  ridge  to  Enotachopco 
creek,  at  a  point  where  it  was  clear  of  reeds,  except  immedi- 
ately  on  its  margin.  A  general  order  had  been  previously 
issued,  pointing  out  the  nfanner  in  which  the  men  should  be 
formed  in  the  event  of  an  attack  on  the  front,  or  rear,  or  on 
the  flanks,  and  the  officers  had  been  particularly  cautioned  to 
halt  and  form  accordingly,  the  instant  the  word  should  be 

^^  The  front  guard  had  crossed  with  part  of  the  flank  columns, 
the  wounded  were  over,  and  the  artillery  in  the  act  of  entering 
the  creek  when  an  alarm-gun  was  heard  in  the  rear.  Having 
chosen  the  ground,  Jackson  expected  there  to  have  entirely 
cutoff  the  enemy,  by  wheeling  the  right  and  lett  columns  on 
their  pivot,  re-crossing  the  creek  £.bove  and  below,  and  tailing 
in  upon  their  flanks  and  rear.  But,  to  his  astonishment  and 
mortification,  when  the  wora  was  given  to  halt  and  torm,  and 
a  few  guns  had  been  fired,  the  right  and  left  columns  of.  the 
rear-guard  precipitately  gave  way.  This  shamefu  reti^at 
was  disastrous  in  the  extreme:  it  drew  along  with  it  the 
sreaterpart  of  the  centre  column,  leavmg  not  more  than2j 
men»  who  being  formed  by  colonel  CanoU,  maintained  then- 
ground  as  long  as  it  was  possible  to  maintain  it.  There  wa^ 
then  left  to  repulse  the  enemy,  the  few  who  remained  of  the 
rear-guard,  the  artiUery  company,  ani;^  captam  ^^J^sf^^.^"^' 
pany  of  spies.  Their  conduct,  however,  exceeded,  thejii^est 
expectations.  Lieutenant  Armstrong,  who  commanded  th^ 
artillery  company,  in  the  absence  of  captam  Oeadrick,  who 
'-_.".        ♦_.  ^^^-    1^..^^  ♦i,^»«  ««  frti'fY4_  and  advanced 

to  the  top  of  th«  hiU,  whilst  he  and  a  few  others  dragged,  up 


318 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


the  six-pounder.  Never  was  more  bravery  displayed  than  on 
this  occasion.  Amidst  the  most  galling  fire  from  the  enemy, 
more  than  ten  times  their  number,  they  ascended  the  hill  and 
maintained  their  position,  until  their  piece  was  hauled  up, 
when,  having  levelled  it,  they  poured  upon  the  enemy  a  fire 
of  grape,  re-loaded  and  fired  again,  charged  and  repulsed 
trhem.'^  ■•*•- 

A  number  of  the  troops  now  crossed  the  creek,  and  entered 
into  the  chase.  Captain  Gordon  of  the  spies,  who  had  rushed 
from  the  front,  endeavoured  to  turn  the  left  fiank  of  the  ene- 
my, in  which  he  partially  succeeded,  and  colonel  Cafroll; 
colonel  Higgins,  and  captains  Elliot  and  Pipkins,  pursued  the 
enemy  for  more  than  two  miles,  who  fled  in  consternation, 
throwing  away  their  packs,  nd  leaving  26  of  their  warriors 
dead  on  the  field.  This  last  defeat  was  decisive,  the  troops 
being  ho  more  disturbed  in  their  retreat. 

The  loss  sustained  in  these  several  engagements  was  20 
killed  4ipd  75  wounded,  4  of  whom  afterwards  died.  The 
loss  of  the  enemy  could  not  be  accurately  ascertained:  189  of 
their  warriors  were  found  dead;  but  this  must  fall  considera- 
bly short  of  the  number  really  killed.  Their  wounded  can  only 

be  guessed  at.  ,  ;     ;• 

Meanwhile  general  Floyd  was  advancmg  towards  the  Indian 
territory  from  ^hatahouchie  river.  On  the  27th  of  January 
his  camp  was  attacked  by  a  large  body  of  Indians,  at  the  horn- 
usually  chosen  for  their  operations,  viz.  about  an  hour  before 
day.  They  stole  upon  the  centinels,  fired  upon  them,  and 
then  with  great  impetuosity   rushed  upon   the  line.     In  20 


•^p^-m^ 


•  GeneralJackaoriy  in  his  oj^ciat  reflortyStatta  some  ifiatancea 
qf/ierhafia  the  moat  deliberate  bravery  that  have  ever  been  re- 
corded:    The  individuals  mentioned  were  lieutenant  JrmHtrong^ 
Constantine  Perkins,  and  Craven  Jackson,  all  of  the  artillery, 
^ihe  two  latter  acting-  as  gunnera.     In  the  hurry  of  the  mOnent, 
in  actiarating  the  gun  from  the  limbers,  the  rammer  and  flicker, 
-^  the  the  cannon  were  left  tied  to  the  limber;  no  sooner  waa  this 
^incovered,  than  Jackson,  amidst  the  galling  fire  of  the  enem.), 
fiulled  out    the  ramrod  of  his  musket  and  used  it  as  a  ptcker; 
primed  with  a  cartridge,  and f  red  the  cannam    Perkins  having 
fiulied  off  his  bayonet^  used  Ma  muaket  aa  a  rammer,  and  drove 
Sown  the  cartridges  and  Jackaon,  using  5»* /f^'^^5^^|f';»^f5^*'J 
discharged  her,     L,ieiiitnuni  ^/irmstrGngjcti,  ju^f  i^ttr  t.-^jir-^ 
kre  of  the  cannon^  excMming,  aa  he  lay,  «  my  brave  feliovfa, 
iorne  ofyoumayfalli  but  you  must  wte  tht  cannoit.*' 


mimites  tl 

were  clos< 

and  the  fii 

soon  as  i 

strengthe 

and  the  cs 

circumstc 

promptly 

the  bayor 

cavalry,  \ 

Thirty 

the  effusi 

dresses  fi 

considers 

The  C 

last  enco 

necessar 

forcemei 

a  consid 

set  out  o 

put  his  : 

of  the  2 

a  half  m 

two  rive 

beyond 

place,  a 

morning 

This 

and  is  tt 

furnishc 

never  r 

Creeks, 

north-,  tl 

ness  an 

with  dc 

figure  ( 

it,  than 

out  bei 

who  laj 

sula,  tl 

acres. 

Intl 

Youca, 

ed  of  J 

exact  ] 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


219 


i«imues  the  action  became  general,  and  the  front  of  both  flanks 
were  closely  pressed,  but  the  gallant  conduci  of  the  ofticers, 
and  the  fimmes*  of  the  men,  repelled  them  at  every  pomt.  As 
soon  as  it  became  light  enough  to  distinguish  objects,  Floyd 
strengthened  his  right  wing  to  prepare  them  for  a  charge, 
and  the  cavalry  was  ordered  to  form  in  their  rear,   to  act  as 
circumstances  should  dictate.    The  order  for  the  charge  was 
promptly  obeyed,  and  the  enemy  fled  in  every  direction  before 
the  biymcu    The  order  was  then  given  for  the  charge  of  the 
cavalry,  who  pui'^JI^d  and  sabred  fifteen  of  the  enemy .        j^ 
Thirty-seven  Indians  were  left  dead  on   the   field.    From 
the  effusion  of  blood,  and  number  of  the  war-clubs  and  head- 
dresses found  in  various  directions,  their  loss  must  havej.een 
considerable.    Floyd's  loss  was  17  killed,  and  132  mounded. 

The  Creeks  being  rather  inspirited  than  cast  down  by  their 
last  encounters  with  the  whites,  more  vigorous  efforts  became 
necessary.  General  Jackson,  therefore,  having  received  i^in- 
forcemeats  of  militia  from  Tennessee,  and  being  jmned  by 
a  considerable  body  of  Cherokee  and  friendly  Creek  Indians, 
set  out  on  another  expedition  to  the  Tallapoosee  nver.  He 
put  his  army  in  motion  from  the  Coosee  river  on  th«  mo^^ 
of  the  24th 'of  .March,  and  hn.ving  a  passage  of  fifty-two  a^^d 
a  half  miles  over  the  ridges  which  J^^ide  the  waters  of  the 
two  rivers,  reached  the  bend  of  the  Tallapoosee,  three  niiles 
beyond  where  the  engagement  of  the  22d  of  January  took 
place,  and  at  the  southern  extremity  of  New  Youca,  on  the 

morning  of  the  27th.   -i,-     -  ^    u««a  cVi«p 

This  bend  resembles  in  its  curvature  that  of  a  horse-shoe 
and  is  thence  called  by  that  name  among  the  whites,   j^aturc 
furnishes  few  situations  as  eligible  for  defence;  and  barbarians 
never  rendered  one  more  secure  by  art,  than  was  this  by  the 
Creeks.     Across  the  neck  of  land  which  leads  into  Jt  from  the 
north,  they  had  erected  a  breastwork,  of  the  greates  compact- 
ness ;nd  strength,  from  five  to  eight  feet  high,  and  pr^Pared 
with  double  rows  of  port-holes  very  artfully  ar^-a^Sff*;.  /^^c 
figure  of  this  wall  manifested  no  less  skill  m  the  IHo^ectors  of 
it,  than  its  construction;  an  army  could  not  approac^  ^\^^^; 
out  being  exposed  to  a  double  and  cross  fire  ^'om^he  enemy, 
who  lay  ia  perfect  security  behind  it.    The  area  of  this  penm- 
sula,  thus  bounded  by  breastworks,  included  about  80  oi  100 

Tn''thU  bend  U.e  warriors  from  Oakfoskce,  0»kch»ya,  Np 
Youc.  Hillabeesahe  Fish  Ponds,  and  Eufauia^owns,  appu^s- 
ed  of  Jackson's  approach,  had  coilected  thcu  su  »»g"'-  .  ■^' 
exact  number  was  not  ascertained!  but  it  was  believed  to  u»jro 


III  mi<iiri»«ii 


220 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


been  about  1000;  and  relying  with  the  utmost-confidence  up- 
on their  strength,  their  situatioi,  and  the  assurances  of  their 
prophets,  they  calculated  on   repulsing  Jackson  with   great 

ease.  :.':i;'.^v,». 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  27tb,  having  encamped  the  pre- 
ceding  night  at  the  distance  of  six  miles  from  the  bend,  Jack- 
son  detached  general  Coffee  with  the  mounted  nlen  and  near- 
ly the  whole  of  the  Indian  force,  to  pass  the  river  at  a  ford 
about  three  miles  below  their  encampment;  and  tasurround 
the  bend  in  such  a  manner  that  none  of  them  should  escape  by 
attempting  to  cross  the  river.  With  the  mainder  of  the 
forces  Jackson  proceeded  along  the  point  of  land,  which  led 
to  the  front*of  their  breastwork;  and  at  iialf  past  10  o'clock, 
planted  his  artillery  on  a  small  eminence, distant  frx)m  the  near- 
est point  of  thi;  breastwork  about  80  yaixis,  and  from  its  farth- 
est about  250s  from  which  a  brisk  fire  was  immediately  opined 
upon  its  centre.  Whenever  the  enemy  showed  themselves 
behind  their  works,  or  ventured  to  approach  them,  a  galling 
fire  was  opened  upon  them  with  r  asquetrv  and  rifles. 

Meanwhile  general  Coffee,  having  crossed  below,  turned  up 
the  river,  bearing  away  from  its  cliffs.  When  within  half  a 
mile  of  the  village,  which  stood  at  the  extremity  of  the  penin- 
sula, the  savage  yell  was  raised  by  the  enemy.  Expecting  an 
knmediate  attack.  Coffee  drew  up  his  forces  in  line  of  battle, 
in  an  open  hilly  woodland,  and  moved  forward  in  that  position. 
The  friendly  Indians  had  been  previously  ordered  to  advance 
secretly  and  take  possession  of  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  pi-e- 
vent the  enemy  i?om  croswng  on  the  approach  of  Jackson's 
main  body  in  front*  Accordingly,  the  fire  of  Jackson's  cannon 
commencing  when  Coffee's  troops  were  within  aboutaqwar^ 
ter  of  a  mile  from  the  river,  his  Indians  immediately  rushed 
forward  with  great  impetuosity  to  its  banks.  The  militia  were 
halted,  and  kept  in  order  of  battle,  an  attack  on  the  rear  being 
expected  from  the  Oakfuskee  villages,  which  lay  on  the  nver 
about  eight  miles  below. 

The  fire  of  the  cannon  and  small  arms  becoming  now  gene* 
fal  JuiA  heavy  in  ft-ont,  animated  the  Indians  on  the  bank;  and 
^seemg  about  ijOo^thc  warriors,  and  all  the  squaws  and  chil- 
dren of  the  enemy  running  about  among  the  huts  of  the  vil- 
lage  OB  the  opposite  shore,  they  could  no  longer  remain  si- 
lent spectators.  While  Some  kepi  up  a  fire  across  the  nver 
(here  about  120  yards  wide),  to  prevent  the  e"«^y|*_*PP*^®*^„ 
to  the  bank,  others  plunged  inio  the  river  aiid  awaiu  av,ii^=«  *«? 
canoes,  that  lay  on  the  other  side  in  considerable  numbers.-- 
Having  succeeded  in  brbging  them  over,  numbers  embarked, 


I 


and  landing 

soon  drov€ 

where  .hej 

whole  acti< 

This  mc 

bank  ungu 

should  tak( 

ingly  postc 

with  40  m< 

the  bend,i 

Finding 

mined  bra 

lodge  the  < 

posite  ban 

session  of 

posed  for  i 

be  effecte( 

the  most  ] 

was  now  ^ 

effept  was 

lar  troops 

were  pres 

wor*4  an( 

a  vivacity 

and  have 

Having 

test,  muz 

nyof  the 

nets,   the 

side  of  th 

ful;  the  e 

that  kind 

and  cut  t 

rounded* 

found,  be 

by  their 

by  gener 

more   th 

found  th 

grape-sh 

cll^ldren 

taken  ex 

""Theb 
about  fi> 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAHi. 


221 


and  landing  in  the  peninsula,  advanced  into  the  village,  aad 
soon  drove  the  enemy  from  the  huts  up  to  the  fortification^ 
where  .hey  pursued  and  continued  to  annoy  them  durmg  the 

whole  action.  ,.,..,•. 

This  movement  of  the  friendly  Indians  leaving  the  nyer 
bank  unguarded,  made  it  necessary  that  a  part  of  Coffee's  hnc 
should  take  their  place.  A  company  of  rangers  were  accord- 
ingly posted  on  the  bank  of  tl\e  upper  part,  and  a  lieutenMit 
with  40  men  took  possession  of  an  island  in  the  lower  part  ol 

the  bend.  .  .         ,.       .     j  *.  * 

Finding  that  the  friendly  Indians,  notwithstanding  the  deter* 
mined  bravery  they  displayed,  were  wholly  insufficient  to  dis- 
lodge the  enemy,  and  that  general  Coffee  had  secured  the  op- 
posite banks  of  the  river,  Jackson  determined  upon  taking  pos- 
session of  the  works  by  storm.     Never  were  men  better  dis- 
pensed for  such  an  undertaking,  than  those  by  whom  it  w^sto 
be  effected.     They  had  entreated  to  be  led  to  the  charge  with 
the  most  pressing  importunity;  and  received  the  order  wlncli 
was  now  given,  with  the  strongest  demonstration  ol  loy .     ht^ 
effect  was  such  as  this  temper  of  mind  foretold.     Ihe  regu- 
lar troops,  led  by  colonel  Williams  and  major  MoDtgoiaeiy^i 
were  presently  in  possession  of  the  nearer  side  of  the  bres^v^ 
wor..,  and  the  militia  accompanied  them  m  the  charge  wiUi 
a  vivacity  and  firmness  which  could  not  have  been  exceeded, 
and  have  seldom  been  equalled  by  troops  of  any  description. 

Having  TtiMntained  for  a  few  minutes  a  very  obstinate  con- 
test, muzzle  to  muzzle,  through  the  port-holes,  ^  which  ma* 
ny  of  the  enemy's  balls  were  welded  to  the  American  bayo* 
nets,  they  succeeded  in  gaining  possession  of  the  opposite 
side  of  the  works.  The  event  could  then  no  longer  be  doubt- 
ful;  the  enemy,  although  many  of  them  fought  to  t^^e  ^^^^^^^^ 
that  kind  of  bravery  which  desperation  inspires,  were  routed 
and  cut  to  pieces.  The  whole  margin  of  the  "ver  which^sur. 
rounded  the  peninsula,  was  strewed  with  the  slain:  557  were 
found,  besides  a  great  number  who  were  thrown  in  the  rwer 

by  their  surviving  friends,  and  »^\»^^^  ^r""""^  rAlnk^NS 
by  general  Coffees  men,  stationed  on  the  opposite  banks.  Not 
l?e  than  20  could  have  escaped,  ^^^^ng  the  dead  v^S 
found  their  famous  prophet  Manahoce,  snot  m  the  mouth  by  a 
grTpe-shot.  and  two  other  prophets.  Ijvo  or  th^e^women  and 
dBldren  were  killed  by  accident.  The  number  ef  prisonei^ 
tZn  exrleied  300,  all  women  and^hildmi  exceptmg  three 

'"'  file  "battle  may  be  said  to  have  continued  with  scvei  iiy  £of 
about  fiThours[  but  the  firing  and  the  slaughter  contmued 


222 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


until  it  was  suspended  by  the  darkness  of  the  night.  The 
next  morning  it  was  resumed,  and  J  6  of  the  enemy  slain,  who 
had  concealed  themselves  under  the  banks. 
-  Jackson's  losswap'??  white  jr.en  killed,  and  107  wounded, 
18  Cherokees  killed.  .,.  5  wounded^  5  friendly  Creeks  kill- 
ed,  and  n  wounded.  .  .  ,, 

This  most  decisive  battle  completely  broke  the  spirit  as  well 
as  power  of  the  hostile  Creeks,  who  were  never  alter  able  to 
make  head  against  the  troops  of  the  United  States.  Jackson 
shortly  after  completely  scoured  the  Coosee  and  Tallapoosee 
rivers,  and  the  intervening  country.  A  part  of  the  enemy  on 
th€  latter  livcr,  just  before  his  arrival,  made  their  escape  across 
it,  and  fled  in  consternation  towards  Pensacola.  Most  of  the 
inhabitants  on  tlie  Coosee  and  the  neighbouring  country  came 
in,  and  surrendered  unconditionally.  Many  of  the  negroes 
taken  at  Fort  Mims  were  delivered  up,  and  one  while  woman, 
with  her  two  children.  ,  ^      ,    r.      v 

A  detachment  of  militia  from  North  aud  South  Carolina, 
under  the  command  of  colonel  Pearson,  scoured  the  country 
below,  upon  the  Alibama,  took  a  number  of  prisoners,  and  re- 
c^vedthe  submission  of  a  great  number  of  Creek  warriors 
and  prophets.  On  the  return  of  Pearson's  expedition,  he  had 
with  him  upwards  of  o  of  the  late  hostile  Creeks,  and  near- 
ly all  the  remaining  pegroes  that  had  been  captured  at  Fort 

On  the   1st  of  August,  the  principal  chiefs  of  the  hostile 
Creeks  met  g-encral  Jackson  at  the  fort  called  by  his  name,  lor 
the  purpose  of  concluding  articles  of  agreement  and  capitu- 
lation, which  were  agreed  upon  the  9th  of  the  same  month. 
By  this  treaty  a  large  and  valtiahle  portion  of  their  territory 
was  ceded  to  the  United  States,  as  an  equivalent  for  the  ex- 
penses incurred  in  prosecuting  the  war,  and  the  right  of  the 
United  States  to  establish  militaiy  posts  and  trading-houses, 
and  to  open  roads  within  their  territory,   was  acknowledged, 
as  also  the  right  to  the  free  navigation  of  all  their  waters.  The 
Creeks  also  engaged  to  make  an  immediate  surrender  of  all 
the  persons  and  property  taken  from  the  citizens  of  *he  Unit- 
ed States,  the  friendly  part  of  the  Creek  nation,  the  s^herokec, 
Chickasaw,  and  Choctaw  nations,  to  the  respective  owners;^ 
and  to  surrender  all  the  prophets  and  instigators  of  the  war, 
whether  foreigners  or  natives,  who  had  not  submitted  to  the 
arms  of  the  United  States,  and  become  parties  to  these  arti- 
cles, if  ever  they  should  be  found  within  the  territory  ol  the 
Creeks.    It  was  also  stipulated,  that  the  Creeks  should  aban- 
don all  communication,  and  cease  to  hold  any  intercourse  with 


any  British 
should  not 
not  derive 
with  them, 
of  the  Unit 
tee  the  ren 
soners;  an 
extreme  w 
sistence,  tli 
ity,  to  cont 
saries,  of  li 
petent  to  y 
houses,  to 
cure  clothi 

Thus  en( 
those  brav 
sion  of  the 
Florida.  I 
stroyed. 

But  har( 
bles  spranc 
to  encount( 
ing  the  tre 
tors  to  Mo! 
formation  t 
sels  had  an 
had  diseml 
munitions  < 
ish  fort  bet 
wise  inforr 
ber  of  trans 

On  the  r 
patched  an 
requesting 
state  shou 
field,  with( 
see,  was  i 
immediate 
quarters. 

The  thr 
another,  sc 
15th  of  Se 
Mobile,  wi 
ated  on  th< 
the  bay  oft 


HISTORY    OF    THE  WAR. 


22a 


any  British  or  Spanish  post,  garrison  or  town;  and  that  they 
The  I  should  not  admit  among  them  any  agent  or  trader,  who  should 
who  I  not  derive  authority  to  hold  commercial  or  other  intercourse 
with  them,  by  license  from  the  president  or  authorised  agent 
of  the  United  States.  The  United  States  engaged  to  guaran- 
tee the  reminder  of  their  territory,  and  to  restore  all  their  pri- 
soners; and,  in  consideration  of  the  nation  being  reduced  to 
extreme  want,  and  not  having  at  present  the  means  of  sub- 
sistence, the  United  States  engaged,  from  motives  of  human- 
ity, to  continue  to  furnish  them  gratuitously  with  the  neces- 
saries, of  life,  until  the  crops  of  corn  could  be  considered  com- 
petent to  yield  the  nation  a  supply;  and  to  establish  tradin^^ 
houses,  to  enable  the  nation  by  industry  and  economy  to  pro- 
cure clothing. 

Thus  ended  the  Creek  war,  after  a  prodigious  slaughter  of 
those  brave,  misguided  men,  and  the  unconditional  submis- 
sion of  the  remainder,  excepting  a  few  who  took  refuge  in 
Florida.  Nearly  the  whole  of  the  Creek  towns  were  de- 
stroyed. 

But  hardly  was  the  Indian  war  at  an  end,  before  new  trou* 
bles  sprang  up  in  this  quarter,  and  general  Jackson  was  forced 
to  encounter  a  much  more  formidable  enemy.  After  conclud- 
ing the  treaty  with  the  Creeks,  Jackson  moved  his  head  quar- 
ters to  Mobile,  where,  on  the  27th  of  August,  he  received  in- 
formation by  express,  from  Pensacola,  that  three  British  ves- 
sels had  arrived  there  on  the  25th,  which,  on  the  following  day 
had  disembarked  an  immense  quantity  of  arms,  ammunition, 
munitions  of  war,  and  provisions,  and  marched  into  the  Span- 
ish fort  between  two  and  three  hundred  troops.  He  was  like- 
wise informed  that  thirteen  sail  of  the  line,  with  a  large  num7 
ber  of  transports,  bringing  10,000  troops,  we r^  daily  expected^ 
On  the  receipt  of  this  information,  Jackson  im.mediately  dis- 
patched an  express  to  the  governor  of  Tennessee,  at  Nashville^ 
requesting  that  the  whole  of  the  quota  of  the  militia  of  that 
state  should  be  organized,  equipped,  and  brought  into  the 
field,  without  delay,  and  his  adjutant-general,  then  in  Tennes- 
see, was  instructed  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for? 
immediately  provisioning  and  bringing  the  troops  to  head- 
quarters. 

The  three  vessels  which  had  arrived  at  Pensacola,  joined  by 
another,  soon  after  sailed  from  that  port  for  Mobile,  and  on  the 
I5th  of  September  appeared  off  Fort  Bowyer.  The  town  of 
Mobile,  where  general  Jackson  had  his  head-quarters,  is  situ- 
ated on  the  west  side  of  the  iViobile  river,  at  its  entrance  into 
the  bay  of  the  same  name.    Mobile  bay  is  about  30  miles  long, 


224,  '^        History  op  the  war. 

^drf  considerable  breadth;  but  Us  enu^^^^^^^^^ 

Thffort  was  oc:^^:d  by  a  sniall  garrison,  commanded  by 

raajor  Lawrence,  of  the  ^^  '^«^;;«y-  j  ^„„  .^j     ,„d  two  brigs, 

'^''^aTslTatournorof  thi  1 5th,  standing  directly  for 

tKrt     A   4%t"af«r„oon,  the  battetj  was  opened  "P-. 

tem-^he  firing  was  i"'-«<l'tIU:d"y1otrNSs  to 
A&>rce  of  HO  '"^'^^^''TX^  Woodbk>e!  of  the  British 

navy,  and  »''°"t  ^° '','^*",„;d  a  fire  upon  it  from  a  twelve- 
the  -T^'^Vt^how^t'z^   butthey  didnoe^  and  were 

pounder  ^^^/^°^f''^'l^^'  Thl  action  continued  without  m- 
soon  silenced  by  »«"«'' J^^  „early  three  hours,  when  three  of 
terroission  on  either  siae  "o^  i'"  /       ~.     ,  oj„modore'»  ship, 

Off  170  men,  iiic  ^"»  killed  and  wounded;  one  ol 

r'briL^alsfwaVv^;  cSX'amaged;  but  her  lo. 

•r-""tUt[te«"p:"ofl'^aai^^^ 
after  having  «-'="'''»''''''*,*f^[  Pi'"l'  a  procfemation  was  is- 

dressed  »»  ^"Xts  the  natives  of  Lonisiana  are  calle 
nesaee.     Iti  this  adaiess  ^berating  their  paternal  so  1 

upon  to  assist  the  British  torces^  totbolishthc  Amcvi- 

froro  a  fruitless  '^becUe  govenimen^  .^ 

can  «B"rpation,_^;;d^p«t_the  kwM  ow ^^^  ^^^^^^^^  ^^^ ^^^ | 

^j;:  S,raud  t  rimS^^'  o„r^-e.  but  either  to  range 


HI3T0UY  OK  THE  WAft. 


225 


which 
jay. — 
,ed  by 

brigs, 
tly  for 
J  upoTi 
essels. 
Is,  200 
British 
\ded  in 
welve- 
d  were 
kout  in- 
,hree  of 
i's  ship, 
ing  an« 
3ind  was 
yards  of 
,  such  a 
t  on  fire 
f  a  crew 
ed.     On 
,;  one  of 
her  loss 
as  about 
inded.— * 
iing  shot 
vy  fire  of 
lamed  on 
ensacola, 

n  was  is- 
majesty's 
acola,  ad- 
and  Ten- 
aire  called 
ternal  soil 
»e  Amtvi- 
oil  in  pos- 
se are  toid 
lions;  il»a^ 
,  and  they 
r  to  range 


themselves  under  the  standard  of  their  forefathers,  or  observe 
a  strict  neutrality.  If  they  complied  with  either  of  these  of- 
fers, the  address  assured  them,  that  whatever  provisions  they 
sent  down  should  be  paid  for  in  dollars,  and  the  safety  of  the 
persons  bringing  it.. as  well  as  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi, guaranteed. 

1  The  proclamation  then  calls  to  the  view  of  the  "  men  of  Ken- 
tucky the  conduct  of  those  factions  ^ich  hurried  them  into 
this  cruel,  unjust,  and  unnatural  war,  at  a  time  when  Great 
Britain  was  straining  every  nerve  in  defence  of  her  own  and 
the  liberties  of  the  world;  when  she  was  expending  millions 
of  her  treasure  in  endeavouring  to  pull  down  one  of  the  most 
formidable  and  dangerous  tyrants  that  ever  disgraced  the 
form  of  man.  When  groaning  Europe  was  in  her  last  gasp, 
when  Britons  alone  showed  an  undaunted  front,  basely  did 
these  assassins  endeavour  to  stab  her  from  the  rear;  she  has 
turned  on  them,  renovated  from  the  bloody  but  successful  strug* 
glCi  -Europe  is  happy  and  free,  and  she  now  hastens  justly 
to  avenge  the  unprovoked  insult.  Shew  them,'*  coniinued 
Nicholls,  "  that  you  are  not  collectively  unjust — leave  that 
contemptible  few  to  shift  for  themselves;  let  those  slaves  of 
the  tyrant  send  an  embassy  to  Elba,  and  implore  his  aid;  but 
let  every  honest,  upright  American  npurn  them  with  merited 
contempt.  After  the  experience  of  2 1  years,  can  you  any 
longer  support  those  brawlers  of  liberty,  who  call  it  freedom, 
when  themselves  are  no  more  free  than  their  impostors?  Be 
no  longer  their  dupes,  accept  my  offers,  and  all  that  is  pro- 
mised you  in  the  proclamation,  I  guarantee  to  you  on  the  sa- 
cred word  of  a-British  officer." 

A  greater  degree  of  ignorance  of  the  nature  of  the  people 
addressed,  was  perhaps  never  displayed,  than  was  manifested 
in  this  proclamation.  Nicholls  himself  was  enabled  to  take  a 
pretty  favourable  view  of  its  reception  a  few  days  after  it  was 
issued,  as  he  headed  the  land  forces  employed  against  B'ort 
Bowyer. 

Previous  to  the  attack  upon  Mobile,  Nicholls  had  held  out 
the  most  seducing  offers  to  induce  a  band  of  lawless  men,  who 
had  formed  an  establishment  on  the  island  of  Barrataria,  to 
enter  into  the  British  service  in  the  operations  planned  against 
Lower  Louisiana.  But  although  these  men  were  acting  in 
the  most  lawless  manner,  and  though  they  were  actually  pro- 
scribed by  t|ie  American  government,  they  would  not  consent 


lu    aiyV    i.i>w 


^<a.t. 


t    WA 


It  uikwi  o. 


Xt.Mh.\^M.^«     V*        «%W 


\^%i\ 


I^    JLJ.  ILZSIii- 


offers,  they  procr 
patched 


astinated  their  answer,  and  immediately  dis-^ 
the  intelligence  to  New  Orleans.  .,,  ^  , .  ,       / 


225  HISl'ORV  OF  THE  WAR. 

The  Barratarians  principally .  consisted  of  the  officers  and 

''™"*f-,'^nol^  of  ^hefr  prize"  these  men  resmted  to  Barra- 
Zl  and D  «tablUh^ment,'  in  the  island  of  Grand  Ter^, 
^'Jh,r  n4ce«  alone  the  coast  of  Louisiana  to  the  west  of  the 
Mississippi,  wn        ,  J        not  excepung  even  that  of 

;;TuHtedSares,i„  whose  dominions  they  had  thus  uiiwar- 
the  Vr  „,!^^  t hftrtselves.  The  chief  intercourse  of  the 
rm^rir'ls^th^Nrw  Orleans,  almost  all  their  prize 

«"?n\^e';!ar"8^t'hri«Usrc"oIony  excited  the  attention 

oe'rh^loCn..^^^^^^^ 

out  »^''''«2h3.?'fue"e  party  were  surprised  and  captured 
Sire  "th!r.xacked  the  settlLeLs  of  this  resolute  set  of  men. 
before  *''7  '  ^^f  1°  'J;^„  being  considerably  strengthened  m 
1  he  naval  f""^"'  ^^'*!fjl  ,™lduion  was  fitted  out.  On  the 
?uhTsemller^c<^mo^o?e  Patterson  left  New  Orleans 
r,  "a  d^fclmtV  ofTo  of  the  Mtb  -gime'it  o    inf^tjy, 

the  morning  oi  u>^  v#.«i«ela  in  the  harbour,  some  of  which 
toTdtarXtr CO "ut  As  toon  as  the  squadron  w.s 
showed  ^"PfB™!"  ^  ^  i   vessels,  ten  m  num- 

pcrceived,  the  ""^^If"^'',™ entrance  of  the  harbour,  and 
ber,  into  a  »"%"  his  vessel-  inwa  line  of  battle,  consist- 
!:t™x''  rnS:,'atnrrrind  a  launch;  the  so^cjoner  Ca 

™H''?r«srdrn'='horv;r^rBam^^^^^^ 

p,^ach  of  tlve  s^»»^'^'t„''C;«^^  all  directions  in  theiV  small 
,he.r  vessels,  ^"^ J?^^ J°  ^'8  ^^^  „{  their  best  schooners— 
b.«ts,  h»"."e  P'«^  °7J„^!^°  ^^^  and  the  small  boats,  were 
"^'^ateTv's^t  in  purfult,  »nd^«"  the  vessels  in  the  harbour 
'^i™  S'lTle^irof,  and  tfc  estabUshment  on  shore  com- 

'''TJr?n';;:r:?«ited.conduct£^gove^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

•"  V ''' ZwiLThem  w  ft  '^Ut  eli^'dUio-m  against"  th"e  United 
*jfZ  'f^m^haf^"  had  been  forcibly  remonswated  against 
brgeneT-lack  -rut  hitherto  without  effect.    Having  been 


HISYOKY  or  THE  WAR. 


227 


on 


reinforced  by  abont  2000  Tennessee  militia,  which  had  marched 
to  Mobile  through  the  Indian  country,  Jackson,  therefore,  ad- 
vanced  towards  P^nsacola  to  demand  redress.  He  reached 
the  neighbourhood  of  that  post  on  the  afternoon  of  the  6th  o> 
November,  and  immediately  sent  a  flag  to  communicate  the 
object  of  his  visit  to  the  governor;  but  it  was  forced  to  return, 
being  fired  on  from  the  batteries.  Jackson  then  reconnoitered 
the  fort,  and  finding  it  defended  by  both  English  and  Spanish 
troops,  determined  to  storm  the  town,  and  accordingly  made 
the  necessary  arrangements  for  carrying  his  determination  into 

effect  the  next  day.  „      ,  ,        .  .^ 

The  troops  were  put  in  motion  for  the  attack  early  on  the 
7th.     Being  encamped  to  the  west  of  the  town,  Jackson  calcu- 
lated that  the  attack  would  be  expected  from  that  quarter.    1  o 
cherish  this  idea,  part  of  the  mounted  men  vjere  sent  to  show 
themselves  on  the  west,  while  the  remainder  of  the  troops 
passed  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  undiscovered,  to  the  east  ot  the 
town.    When  at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  the  town  appeared  m 
full  view.    The  troops,  principally  militia,  with  a  few  regu- 
lars, and  some  Choctaw  Indians,  advanced  with  the  most  un- 
daunted  courage,  although  a  strong  fort  appeared  ready  to  as- 
sail them  on  the  right,  seven  British  armed  vessels  on  the  lett, 
and  strone  block-houses  and  batteries  of  cannon  m  front.     On 
entering  the  town,  a  battery  of  two  cannon  was  opened  on  the 
centre  column,  composed  of  the  regulars,  with  ball  and  grape, 
and  a  shower  of  musquetry  from  the  houses  and  gardens.    1  He 
battery  was  immediately  stormed,  and   the  musquetry  was 
soon  silenced  by  the  steady  and  well-dii-ected  fire  ot  the  regu- 

The  governor  now  made  his  appearance  with  a  flag,  and 
beeged  for  mercy,  offering  to  surrender  the  town  and  fori  un- 
conditionally.    Mercy  was  granted,  and  protection  given  to 
the  cUixens  and  their  property,  although  the  officer  command- 
ing  the  fort  refused  to  ,ive  it  ap,  and  held  it  ti"  near  rmd- 
nilht,  when  he  evacuated  it  with  his  troops.     The  British 
moved  down  to  the  Barrancas,  a  strong  fort  commanding  the 
harbour,  and,  finding  that  Jackson  had  gamed  possession  of 
the  town,  n^xt  morning  ^nikcd  and  dismounted  the  cannon, 
and  bl^w  up  the  fort,  justis  the  American  troops  were  pre- 
Darinc  to  marcl  and  storm  the  place. 

The  British  then  withdrew  to  their  shippmg,  and  general 
Jackson,  having  accomplished  his  object,  evacuated  the  town, 
and  returned  to  the  Americrii  doranuou*.  .     .,       ^ 

The  diggers  impending  over  x^ew  Orieans  from  the  threat- 
«ned  expedition  of  the  B.ilAsh,  now  rendered  the  presence  ol 


228 


HISTORY  OF  THi:  WAR. 


general  Jack»on  higWy  necessary  at  that  city.  He  arrived 
there  with  his  troops  on  the  2d  of  December,  and  immediate 
measures  of  defence  were  adopted,  by  embodying  the  militia, 
repairing  the  forts  on  the  river,  &c. 

A  few  days  after  Jackson's  arrival,  the  British  fleet  made 
their  appearance  in  the  bay  of  St.  Louis,  and  on  the  12th,  the 
fleet  appeared  in  such  strength  off  Ship  island,  as  to  induce 
lieutenant  Jones,  who   commanded  the  American  flotilla  of 
gun-boats,  to  retire  higher  up  the  lake,  to  take  a  position  to 
defend  the  passes  to  New  Orleans.     On  the  13th,  the  Ameri- 
can schooner  Seahorse,  which  had  been  sent  by  the  commo- 
dore that  morning  to  the  Bay  of  St.  Louis,  to  assist  in  the  re- 
moval of  some  public  stores,  was  attacked  by  three  of  the 
enemy's  barges.    These  were  driven  off,  but  being  reinforced 
by  four  others,  the  schooner  was  blown  up  by  her  crew,  and 
the  store-house  set  on  fire.     On  the  following  day,  the  Ame- 
rican flotilla,   while  becalmed,   was   attacked   by   42    heavy 
laimches  and  gun-barges,  manned  with  1000  men  and  officers, 
and   after  a   vigorous   resistance,   for  upwards  of.  an   hdur, 
against  this  overwhelming  force,  the  whole  flotilla  was  cap- 
tured by  the  enemy.  . 

The  news  of  the  arrival  of  the  British  squadrdn  m  these 
waters,  reached  New  Orleans  on  the  1 2th  of  December,  and 
in  a  day  or  twd  alter,  martial  law  was  proclaimed  in  the  city, 
and  the  militia  called  out  en  masse.  Large  appropriations 
Mere  made  bv'the  legislature  of  Louisiana  for  the  erection  ot 
bntteries,  and' granting  bounties  to  seamen  to  enlist  in  the  ser- 
\icG;  an  embargo  was  laid  for  three  days  m  order  to  stop  the 
dtparture  of  those  individuals;  and  a  requisition  was  made  by 
L-cneral  Jackson  of  negroes  to  work  on  the  fortifications,  and 
all  those  found  in  the  streets  were  impressed  for  that  purpose, 
as  well  as  all  kinds  of  drays  and  carts.  Four  thousand  len- 
nessee  militia  arrived  by  water  on  the  21st,  and  Jackson  wa.^ 
further  reinforced  by  the  "Barratarians,  to  whom  an  amnesty 
was  granted  by  the  general  and  the  governor  of  Louisiana,  on 
condition  of  their  joining  in  the  defence  of  the  country. 

The  loss  of  the  gun-boats  having  given  the  enemy  commantl 
of  lake  Borgne,  he  was  enabled  to  choose  his  point  of  attack. 
It  became,  therefore,  an  object  %f  importance  to  obstruct  thQ 
numerous  bayous  and  canals  leading  from  that  lake  to  the 
highlands  on  the  Mississippi.  This  important  service  ^as 
committed  to  major-general  Viiiere,  commanding  the  uisirici 
between  the  river  and  the  lakes,  who,  being  a  native  of  the 
rountry,  >vas  presumed  to  be  best  acquamted  with  all  these 


passes. 


Unfortunately,  however,  a  picket  which  the  general 


had  eftta' 

which,  r 

left  unob 

penetrati 

leagues  1 

pany  of 

municat 

at  this  ti 

not  exce 

Coffee's 

tia  from 

mand  of 

»tatione< 

attack  b 

and  the 

and  at  5 

whom  h 

major  i\ 

7th  and 

under  t 

chiefly  £ 

der  the 

dcr  the 

1500  mi 

Jacks 

immedi 

forces, 

half  a  n 

Genera 

the  resi 

tion  on 

droppc( 

©d  to  o] 

half  aft 

men,  w 

right  ai 

with  ec 

Unfc 

caused 

the  con 

secutk 

for  tfee 

field  tl 

positio 


MISTOUY  OF    IHR  WAR. 


229 


Uiid  ©fctablbhed  at  the  mouth  of  the   bayou  Bieiwenu,  and 
which,  notwithstanding  general   Jackson's  orders,  had  been 
left  unobstructedj  was  completely  sur prised,  and  the  enemy 
penetrated  thiough  a  canal   leading   to  his  farm,  about  two 
leagues  below  the   city,  and  succeeded  in  cutting  off  a  com- 
pany of  militia  stationed  there.    This  intelligence  was  com- 
municated to  Jackson  about  12  o'clock  on  the  23d.     His  for? 
at  this  time  consisted  of  parts  of  the  7th  and  44th  regimct 
not  exceeding  600  together,  the  city  militia,  a  part  of  genet*. 
Coffee's  brigade  of  mounted  gun-men,  and  the  detached  mili- 
tia from  the  western  division  of  Tennessee,  under  the^  com- 
mand of  major-general  Carroll.     These  two  last  corps  were 
stationed  four  miles  above  the  city.     Apprehending  a  doubl« 
attack  by  the  way  of  Chef  Menteur,  general  Carroll's  force, 
and  the  militia  of  the  city,  were  left  posted  on  the  Gentilly  road^ 
aod  at  5  o'clock,  P.  M.  Jackson  marched  to  meet  the  enemy, 
whom  he  was  resolved  to  attack  in   his   first  position,   #ith 
major  Hind's  dragoons,  general  Coffee's  brigade,  parts  of  tht 
nh  and  44th  regiments,  the  uniformed  companies  of  militia, 
under  the   command  of  major  Planche,  200  men   of  colour, 
chiefly  from  St.  Domingo;  and  a  detachment  of  artillery,  un- 
der the  direction  of  colonel  M' Re  a,  with  2  six-pounders,  un- 
der the  command  of  lieutenant  Spots,  not  exceeding  in  all 
1500  men.  *..*.. »^^ 

Jackson  arrived  near  the  enemy's  encampment  aboat  7,  and 
immediately  made  his  dispositions  fortlie  attack.  The  enemy's 
forces,  amounting  at  that  time  on  land  to  about  3000,  extended 
halfamileon  the  river,  and  in  the  rear  nearly  to  the  wood. 
General  Coffee  was  ordered  to  turn  their  right,  -while,  with 
the  residue  of  the  force,  Jackson  attacked  his  strongest  posi- 
tion on  the  left  near  the  river.  Commodore  Patterson,  having 
dropped  down  the  river  in  the  schooner  Caroline,  was  direct- 
ed to  open  a  fire  upon  their  camp,  which  he  executed  about 
half  after  7.  This  being  the  signal  of  attack,  general  Coffee'^s 
men,  with  their  usual  impetuosity,  rushed  on  the  enemy's 
right  and  entered  their  camp,  while  Jackson's  troops  advanced 

with  equal  ardour.  *      ^       i^ 

Unfortunately,  a  thick  fog,  which  arose  about  eight  i^tloclll 
eaused  some  cdnfusion  among  the  different  corps.  Fearing 
the  conaeqviences,  under  this  circumstance,  ©f  the  further  pro- 
secutioo  €rf  a  night  attack  with  troops  theri  acting  to^tb«f 
for  ttie  first  time,  Jaekson  contented  himself  wkb  lying  on  the 
field  that  night;  a»d  at  four  m  the  morning  assumed  aaironger 
position  about  two  miles  nearer  to  the  city. 

Itt  t^i|.|^i§n  Ibe  Am^Fican  lost  w^s  34  killed^  I U  w<»inA* 


V  2 


%30 


HISTORY  OF  Tilil  WAR. 


ed^and  74  missing;  the  BriAth  loss^  amounted  to  46  killed, 
167  wouaded,  and  64  missing.  s  ,*>»r,i 

-  The  country  between  New-Orleans  and  the  sea_is  one  ex- 
tens  le  swamVexcepting  the  immediate  banks  of  the  xMissis- 
^ippi:     Thes4  banks  are  generally  about  a  quanerof  a  mile 
wX  and  being  Mgber  than  the  country  behind,  are  dry,  ex- 
Tept  in  time  of  inundation,  when   the  who^e  country  would 
fo?inone««t  flood,  were  it  not  for  the  artiEcial  banks  of^le- 
v^"  Thilh  have  been  erected  for  the  ff»«rv«"°°^«^,f « 
farms  on  tbU  narrow,  but  fertile  strip  of  land.    The  cty  of 
New-Orleans  itself  is  protected  from  the  tiver  in  the  same 
i^er     At  intervals  there  are  «ayo«.  or  outlets  wh»chp.e«,e 
Jhise  banks;  the  water  which  Hows  through  them,  however, 
^ever  ^Tu^s  to  the  bed  of  the  river,  but  6nds  its  way  to  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  by  other  channels  through  the  swamps.     __ 

-  Fromrtlfdescripaon  of  the  country,  t  will  be  perceived 
that,  New-Orleans  is  extremely  soscepuble  of  defeuce.^nd 
th^tover  a  certain  proportion,  numbers  are  nearly  unavailing. 

-»e  poritfontaken  up  by  g^"'™"  ^^^^T  '"'^^'^^^^^''^1 

of  the  river.    On.  the  left  it  was  simply  a  straight  line  of  a 

f^t^  about  1000  yards,  with  a  parapet,  the  right  resting 

n^l  e  liveTandThe  left  on  a  wood,  which  communicated_w.^ 

1^  stamp  ^d  the  passage  of  which  had  beeu  rendered  i.^ 

acSle   for  troops.     This  line  was  strengthened  by  flank 

works  tS  had  aZch  with  about  four  feet  o!  water.     On  the 

aghtba^^'^'h^vy  battery  of  15  guns,  which  enfiladed  the 

whole  front  of  the  position  on  the  left  bank.,     r  _      _       _^ 

TiL  RiitUh  havinc  erected  a  battery  m  the  night  of  the  26tfc, 

.U-^S  on  ttJfXri,.g  day,  in  bUiag  up  tN.,s^^^^^ 

('^Sne  which  lay  becalmed  a  short  distanee  above  ii*  the 
mS^pT  Her  crew,  however,  had  previously  made  the*. 
™  Emboldened  b^  this  event,  the , wemy  marcherlto 
wlS^ibrM  on  he  28th  up  the  levee^  in  the  hope,  of  dnvins 
.^Am^ri^ans  fr^  their  position,  and  with  this  view  opened 
,S>^Sat  the  disunce  of  about  halPamle,  his  bonAs  and 
XiLtr  He  was  repulsed,  however,  with  the  loss  of  1 6  kMl- 
X»d'3»  wornded.*^  The"  American  loss  was  7.  h*«ed,and 

*ZStoSf  attempt  w.*  made ^vTpiS'the  American  Unes  on  Ite 

,  n  .rf^ry.  Tl«  enemy  ^Z'''^^:t^^TCn 
.  tl  a  bMterir-  0©ar  ih«  works,  m  the  itKH^Mig  opeoea  *  n»*J^ 
fi*e  fi^m  t,  aS  made  two  bold  attempts,  to  foioe  a,>d  t urn  he 
?eltSiSCth«f  which  they  wei-e  repttteedr  i«»ck  in  ih^ 
lelt  wmg,  m;  »»Vi«,  ,,_^  «^«4edto  iMi  »ioe8»  leaving  all 
course  ^i  ^-  ;^;^^-j,ieh  thn  mw^mmiff^l^^^ 


tiji#  &*«» 


■*" 


and  a  c<Mi»ic 

their  dead  i 

44  woundc( 

and  23  wo\ 

General 

on  the  4th 

Lambert,  a 

Serious  pr< 

cartworks. 

On  the 

succeeded 

cning  ;^d 

they  had  al 

tion.    The 

not  in  JAck 

the  nature 

rendering 

menta  in  a 

cij^lined  at 

increased  i 

had  receiv 

detacbmei 

wait  the  s 

measure  t< 

object  in 

Early  ii 

a  heavy  si 

colnmns  o 

the  left  hi 

foi'ce  in  I 

entr«nchr 

Morgan,^ 

litia,  and! 

Jackson, 

tucky  mil 

.  Tlieco 

Jackeon's 

and  all  Qa 

ries  now 

which  €0 

fewniinu 

ifcat  oith 

.«!hi@h  s©< 

iff  the  CO 

m6udoua 


.1; 


HISTORl^illl  IHfe  WAB. 


m 


A 

o 


O 

H 

P 


and  a  ccmsiderable  quantity  of  ammumtion,  worlyng-toola,  and 
their  dead  unburied.  Their  loss  on  this  occasion  was  32  kiHe^ 
44  wounded,  and  2  missing}  that  of  the   Americans,  11  killca 

and  23  wounded.  «-     .     .  r.. 

General  Jackson  was  reinforced  by  2500  Kentucky  miUtia 
on  the  4th,  and  on  the  6th  the  British  were,  joined  by  general 
Lambert,  at  the  head  of  the  second  part  of  the  expedition. 
Serious  preparations  were  now  made  for  storming  the  Amen- 

cart  works.  ^^    ^  '     .      .,  ,     »  •.•  l 

On  the  night  of  the  7th,  with  infinite  labour,  the  Britisb 
succeeded  in  getting  their  boats  into  the  Mississ^pi,  byw:id- 
cningiW^:  deepening  the  channel  of  the  bayouj  fijom  which 
they  had  about  two  weeks  before  effected  their  diseml»rka? 
tion.  Though  these  operations  were  not  unperceived,  it  was 
not  in  JAck8on»s  power  to  impede  them  by  a  general  attock: 
the  nature  of  the  troops  under  his  command,  mostly  immtiai 
rendering  it  too  hazardous  to  attempt  extensive  offensive  raW" 
mentainaa  open  country,  against  a  numerous  and  welWI^ 
ciplined  army.  Although  his  forces,  as  to  number^  had  beepi 
increased  by  the  arrival  of  the  Kentucky  division,  his  stren-*^ 
had  received  very  little  addition;  a  small  portion  only  of  1 
detachment  being  provided  with  arms.  Compelled  thus  to 
wait  the  attack  of  the  enemy,  Jackson,  however,  took  eve^ 
measure  to  repel  it  when  it  should  be  made,  and  to  defeat  ^the 
©biectin  view.  '  ■  ":'>:.'^':v;-  'i*.  -i-va  ^v- 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th,  the  enemy,  after  throvnng 
a  heavy  shower  of  bombs  and  Congreve  rockets,  advanced  their 
colamnson  the  right  and  left,  to  storm  the  entrenchnaents  on 
the  left  bank  of  tfie  Mississippi;  throwing  over  a  ponwderable 
foi'cc   in  his  boats  at  the  same  timfe  to  the  right  bank,.    The 
entrenchments  on  the  right  bank,  were  occupied  by  general 
Morgan,  with  the  New-Orleans  contingent,  the  Louisiana  mi- 
litia,  and  a  strong  detachment  of  the  Kentucky  troops:  general 
Jackson,  with  the  Tennessee  and  the  remainder  of  the  Ken- 
tiM:ky  militia,  occupied  the  works  on  the  left  batik..       : 
.1  The  columns  of  the  enemy  advanced  in  good  order  towards 
Jackeon^s  entrenchments,  the  men  shouldering  their  muskets, 
and  all  aawfying  facines,  and  some  with  ladders.    Ihe  batte- 
des   now  opened  an  incessant   fire  on  the  Bmish  colunins, 
which  continued  to  advance  in  pretty  g^^.^^^^^f -T!  wlk 
few  minutes,  the  musquetry  of  the  militia  jommg  their  h^e  with 
ihat  of  the  artiUei^y,  began  to  make  atv  impression  €«j  them, 
whieh  soon  threw  them  into  confusion.    At  thisume  the  noise 
^the  continued  rolling  fire  r^»mbled  theco^uwion^^^re- 
mfcudou»:|p#Iii  0  thunder;   >or  aotitc  «».«  «.v  ^.i-— --^= 


^2 


HiSTOEY  OF  Ta»  tVAfc. 


I  s% 


Veers  succeeded  in  animating  the  courage  of  their  troops,  al- 
though every  discharge  from  the  batteries  opened  the  columns, 
mowing  down  whole  files,  Nvhich  were  almost  mstantaneously 
replaced  by  new  troops  coming  up  close  after  the  first:  but 
these  also  shared  .he  same  fate,  until  at  last,  after  25  minutes 
continued  firing,  through  which  a  few  platoons  advanced  to 
the  edge  of  the  ditch,  the  columns  broke  and  retreated  m  con- 
fusion. .     \  .      ,  rru 

A  second  attack  was  received  m  the  same  manner.  1  he 
British  wer«  forced  to  retreat,  with  an  immense  loss.  But 
vain  was  the  attempt  of  the  officers  to  bring  them  up  a  third 
time.  The  soldiers  were  insensible  to  every  thing  bufe danger, 
and  saw  nothing  but  death,  which  had  struck  so  many  of  their 

comrades.  , «    i     u 

Near  the  commencement  of  the  attack,  gene  al  Packenham, 
the  British  commander-in-chief,  lost  his  life  at  the  head  of  his 
ttoopi,  ?ind  toon  after,  generals  Keane  and  Gibbs  were  carried 
©ff  the  field  dangerously  wounded.  A  great  many  other  ofii- 
^ers  of  rank  fell,  and  the  plain  between  the  front  line  of  the 
British  and  the  American  works,  a  distance  of  400  yards,  was 
ii^tcrally  covered  with  the  enemy's  dead  and  wounded.  At 
this  time  general  Jackson*^  loss  was  only  seven  killed  and  six 

wounded.  ,  ■•■%.':}»'''-'■''  L-'' '  - 

The  entii«  destruction  of  the  British  avmy  had  ndW  wen  in- 
evitable, had  not  an  unfortunate  occurrance  at  this  moment 
taken  place  on  the  right  bank  of  the  river.  The  troops  which 
had  landed  there  were  hardy  enough  to  advance  against  the 
works,  and  at  the  very  moment  when  their  entire  discomfiture 
was  looked  for  with  confidence,  the  Kentucky  militia  inglori- 
ously  fled,  drawing  after  them,  by  their  example,  the  remain- 
der of  the  forces.  Commodore  Patterson,  who  commanded 
the  batteries,  was  o£c9jarse  forced  to  abandon  them,  after  spik- 
ing his  guns.  .'^^''.••>*^--r-^"''^  /.     fl.  . 

This  unfortunate  rout  totally  changed  the  aspect  of  attairs. 
The  enemy  now  occunkd  a  position  from  which  he  could  an- 
noy Jackson  without  hazard,  and  by  means  of  which  he  might 
have  been  enabled  to  defeat,  in  a  great  measure,  the  effects  of 
the  success  of  the  Americans  on  the  other  side  of  tfc*?river.  It 
became,  therefore,  an  object  of  the  first  consequence  to  dis- 
lodge him  as  soon  as  possible.  For  this  object  all  the  means 
grhich  Jackson  could  with  any  safety  use,  were  immediately 
m»t  In i^eparfttion.  But  so  great  had  been  the  loss  of  the  BrU- 
ok  on  the  left  bank,  that  they  were  not  ai>le  to  ipar©  a  suffi- 
cient nuiji&er  of  troops  to  hoUl  iiic  puoiiion  which  tHCTiisu 
gi^ed  dnth«  right  bank,  without  jeopardising  the  safety  of  the 


wliole.  Th 
immediatel 
The  spi] 
conduct  of 
even  in  this 
After  their 
rican  trooj 
went,  of  th 
wounded  I 
they  did  se 
While  the^ 
on,  and  se^ 
ger,  persei 
baseness  n 
common  cj 
fire  by  thei 
ly  asserted 
day  was  th 
\yould  seei 
tnanders. 

The  tot£ 
of  the  rive 
British  acl 
484  missin 
tions  were 

The  Br 
to  occupy 
noyed  by  1 
midnight ' 
boats,  leav 
including  1 
a  quantity 
powder,  w 
was  the  si 
and  of  thai 
doubts,  en 
on  his  left 
which  tru( 
lempt  to  s 
prisoners. 

Commo 
a  gig,  mar 
Mr.  Thon 
annoy  the 
boat  lying 


HISTORY  OF  THK  WAR.- 


233 


wTiole.  The  troops  were,  therefore,  withdrawn,  and  Jackson 
immediately  regained  the  lost  position. 

'The.  spirit  of  atrocity  and  vengeance,  which  marked  the 
conduct  of  the  British  during  the  campaign,  was  manifested 
even  in  this  battle,  although  they  suifered  so  signal  a  defeat.— 
After  their  final  repulse  on  the  left  bank,  numbers  of  the  Ame- 
rican troops,  prompted  merely  by  sentiments  of  humanit;^!^, 
went,  of  their  own  accord,  in  front  of  their  lines,  to  assist  thfc 
wounded  British,  to  give  them  drink,  and  to  carry  them  (as 
they  did  several  of  them  on  their  backs)  within  the  lines.-— 
While  they  were  thus  employed,  they  were  aptually  fired  up- 
on, and  several  killed.  Yet  the  others,  regardless  of  the  dan- 
ger, persevered  in  their  laudable  purpose.  This  instance  of 
baseness  may  have  proceeded  from  individuals;  nor  would  it  in 
common  cases  be  presumed,  that  the  men  were  ordered  ta 
fire  by  their  officers:  but  if  thQ  fact  be,  as  has  been  repeated- 
ly asserted  without  contradiction,  that  the  watchword  of  the 
day  was  the  significant  words  "  beauty  and  hoaty^*  no  charge 
Avould  seem  too  atrocious  for  belief  against  the  British  com- 
manders. 

The  total  loss  of  the  Americans  in  this  action,  on  both  sides 
of  the  river,  was  13  killed,  39  wounded,  and  19  missing.  The 
British  acknowledge  a  loss  of  293  killed,  1267  wounded,  and 
484  missing.  About  100  stand  of  arms  of  different  descrLpi<i* 
tions  were  taken  by  the  Americans. 

The  British  having  retired  to  their  old  position,  continued 
to  occupy  it  till  the  night  of  the  18th,  although  constantly  an- 
noyed by  the  American  artillery  on  both  sides  of  the  river.  At 
midnight  they  precipitately  decamped,  and  returned  to  their 
boats,  leaving  behind,  ujider  medical  attendance,  80  wounded, 
including  two  officers.  Fourteen  pieces  of  heavy  artillery,  and 
a  quantity  of  shot,  were  also  abandoned,  and  a  great  deal  of 
powder,  which,  however,  was  previously  destroyed.  But,  such 
was  the  situation  of  the^round  which  the  enemy  abandoned, 
and  of  that  through  which  he  retired,  protected  by  canals,  re- 
doubts, entrenchments,  and  swamps  on  his  right,  and  the  river 
on  his  left,  that  Jackson  could  not,  without  encountering  a  ri»k 
which  true  policy  did  not  seem  to  require  or  to  authorise,  at- 
tempt to  annoy  him  much  on  his  retreat.  He  took  only  eight 
prisoners.  liM 

Commodore  Patterson,  however,  dispatched  five  boats  and 
a  gig,  manned  and  armed  with  50  men,  under  the  command  of 
Mr.  Thomas  Shields,  purser  on  the  New-Orleans  station,  to 
annoy  the  retreat  of  the  British.  On  the  night  of  the  iyih,  a 
boat  lying  at  anchor  was  captured  by  surprise,  without  resist*- 


0»mm 


m 


23<|  HJSTOHY  OF  THE  WAR. 

,«ce,  containing  40  dragoons  and  14  ^'''XyJ^*  P,td°"^d 
excecdine  the  detachment  in  numbers,  Shields  returned,  ana 
XcW  ?hem  in  charge  of  the  army,  again  set  out  m  pursuit, 
?„  the  hop^^f  intercepting  some  ol  the  enemy's  boats  about 

-^Sntl*  rr;^ngTthr"st,   Shields  once  more  pushed  off 

r^rbS^b:roV  somr:Air".^re  theW^  gWen 
^  to  the  Sled  prisoners,  and  the  remamder  destroyed  -- 
&ty-e^ht  prisoners  wevfi  brought  in  by  this  intrepid  htUe 

''^Meantime  the  British  fleet  having  proceeded  up  the  Misms- 

siB^!  boXrded  Fort    St.  Philip  for  eight  or  mne  days;  but 

KuTable  to  make  any  impression,  they  commenced  their 

rettSou  the  same  titie  that  the  army  above  embarked  m 

^^rWts"viz.on  the  18th  ofJanuary.  The  bombardmg  ves. 

sels  WCTe  Stationed  most  of  the  time  out  of  the  re^ch  of  the 

guusTf^he  fort.  Major  Overton,  the  commander,  lost  only 

two  killed  and  seven  wounded.  i,  ,     p     ^    <.«, 

WelTve  never  seen  any  official  statement  of  the  fo«*!«'"- 

pl^ed  in  this  expedition;  but  the  most  P^^able  caJcutoon 

Slakes  the  force  landed  below  New  Orleans,  about  "^J^*?' 

IToM  land-troops,  and  4000  sailora  and  marines.    So  confi- 

d^t^e?"  the  Brit  sh  of  success,  that  coUectors  of  the  customs 

a^  ^her  civil  officers  attended  the  exped.Uon,  several  rf 

whom  were  among  the  prisoners  taken  by  Shield-    "n  the  re- 

""Ts^B  a'sXBritish  troops  were  embarked  on  board  their 
ah Jpi^X^"  squadro»*iade  L  Mobile  bay,  and  complMely 
invested  Fort  Bowyer  both  by  land  and  water.  A  large  force 
'wTu^ed  00  the'  18th  of  February,  who "lade  regular  ap- 
ftmnches    keeoinK  up  a  constant  firing,  until  the  i  iin,  wncn, 

ThT:5r™Sb!inI  within  P»t°':'%l't  fn,S>tun 
I  .wrence  was  summoned  to  surrender.  Resistance  oein^  uii 

aS^^tthc  overwhelming  fo'"- ^^  »*>«  «°f"2'f "'^  b 
Sf3i>n  were  agreed  to,  «'^'^«"'»«»"S'*f.>jXers 
BriS.,  the  garrison,  consisting  of  3«6  men,  including  officer^ 
.tu-'ino- considered  prisoners  of  war.  On  the  lOtn,  ana  iiui,  b=- 
SXchester,  who  commanded  at  Mobile,  threw  a  detach- 

ZZZZ.  the  bay  for  the  relief  of  Fort  Bo^Ile  British  ba" 
iffect  anv  thinfr,  except  tiie  capture  of  one  of  the  Briush  oai 

^'Wil'^heroperations  were  carried  on  in  the  Oulph  et 
Mexico,  a  considerable  force  was  stationed  off  the  coast  o> 


South  Carol 

nah.     They 

tary  station, 

main,  exce] 

under  admii 

island,  aftei 

the  forts  in  i 

Having  tl 

shall  now  tu 

continued  to 

querulous  I 

Ihey  are  sui 

It  will  be 

tion  and  He 

memortible 

that  of  the 

sailed  trom 

to  join  com 

Porter  left 

(he  Cape  < 

crossing  th 

and  the  ou 

any  enc.my' 

Praya  for  s 

de  Verds  i 

packet  was 

ing  taken  c 

the  United 

The  isla 

dezvous,  y 

received  a 

him  under 

that  he  w< 

pprt,  there 

de  Janeiro 

the  prisor 

their  capti 

vessels  un 

All  sail,  tl 

effort  to  r 

telligence 

blockade  ( 

net,  and  af 

Montague 

the  Hornt 

pursuit  of 


aiSTORY  9F  THE  WAR. 


255 


soners 
d,  and 
ursuit, 
}  about 

hedoff 
al,  but 
vas  not 
J  given 
3yed.— 
id  little 

Missis- 
ys;  but 
;d  their 
rked  iti 
ng  ves- 
\  of  the 
)st  only 

cts  em- 
cuhtion 

000  vis. 
»o  confi- 
customs 
iveral  of 

1  the  re- 

ard  their 
npletely 
'ge  force 
rular  ap- 
b,  when,  I 
,  colonel 
leing  un- 
,  articles 
pt  to  the 
r  officers, 
nth,  g6- 
a  detach- 
:oo  late  to 
itish  bar- 1 

Gulph  of 
e  coast  ot 


South  Carolina  and  Georgia,  menacing  Charleston  and  Savan- 
nah. They  took  possession  of  Cumberland  Island,  as  a  mili- 
tary station,  but  nothing  of  consequence  was  eflPected  on  the 
main,  excepting  the  capture  of  St.  Mary's  by  a  detachnrient 
under  admiral  Cockbum,  who  again  returned  to  Cumberland 
island,  after  they  effected  their  purpose  by  the  destruction  of 
the  forts  in  the'  neighbourhood. 

Having  thus  reviewed  every  important  military  event,  we 
shall  now  turn  our  attention  to  the  ocean,  where  our  cruizers 
continued  to  range  with  unabated  vigour,  and  where,  to  use  the 
querulous  language  of  the  British  journalists,  *'  if  they  flght^ 
they  are  sure  to  conquer;  if  they  fly,  they  are  sure  to  escape." 

It  will  be  recollected,  that  in  October,  1812,  the  Constitu- 
tion and  Hornet  sailed  from  Boston  on  a  cruize,  which  proved 
memorable  by  the  destruction  of  the  Java  by  the  former,  and 
that  of  the  Peacock  by  the  latter.  The  Essex,  captain  Porter, 
sailed  trom  the  Delaware  about  the  «ame  time,  under  orders 
to  join  commodore  Bainbridge,  who  commanded  the  squadron 
Porter  left  the  capes  on  the  28th  of  October,  and  steered  for 
the  Cape  de  Verd  islands,  the  first  appointed  rendezvous, 
crossing  the  track  of  the  homeward-bound  British  Indiamen, 
and  the  outward-bound  West  Indiamen.     Without  meeting 
any  enemy's  vessels,  he  reached  St.  Jago,  and  put  into  port 
Praya  for  supplies.  On  the  29th  of  November  he  left  the  Cape 
de  Verds  for  the  Brazil  coast.    A  few  days  after,  a  British 
packet  was  captured,  with  about  g55,000  in  specie,  which  be- 
ing taken  out,  the  vessel  was  dispatched  with  a  prize-master  to 

the  United  States.  ,    ,         r 

The  island  of  Fernando  de  Noronha,  the  second  place  ot  ren- 
dezvous, was  reached  on  the  I4th  of  December.  Here  Porter 
received  a  communication  from  the  commodore,  addressed  to 
him  under  the  fictitious  title  of  sir  James  Lucas  Yeo,  stating 
that  he  would  find  him  off  Cape  Frio,    without  entering  the 
port,  therefore,  the  Essex  stood  to  the  southward.     Near  Rio 
de  Janeiro  a  British  schooner  was  captured,  and  after  taking 
the  prisoners  out,  it  was  discovered,  that  about  an  hour  before 
their  capture^  ^hey  had  parted  with  a  small  convoy  of  BriUsh 
vessels  under  charge  of  the  Juniper,  a  three-masted  schooner. 
All  sail,  therefore,  w^  immediately  made  in  pursuit,  but  every 
effort  to  reach  them  proved  abortive.    During  the  pursuit  in- 
telligence was  received,  from  different  vessels,  first  of  the 
blockade  of  the  Bonne  Citoycnne  by  the  Constitution  andHOT- 
net,  and  afterwards  of  the  capture  of  an  American  ^^ssd  by  the 
Montague  74,  whicll  captain  forter  strongly  susircct^u  w  uw 
the  Hornet,  with  the  addition  that  the  Montague  had  gone  m 
pursuit  of  the  frigate. 


336 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


This  intelligence  removed  all  expectations  of  the  Essex  b%- 
inc  enabled  to  join  commodore  Bainbridge;  and  it  became 
absolutely  necessary,  therefore,  for  Porter  to  depart  from  the 
letter  of  his  instructions.     He  accordingly  determmed  to  pur- 
sue that  course  which  seemed  best  calculated  to  mjure  the 
enemy,    and  to  enable    the  cruize  to  be  prolonged.     1  his 
could  only  be  done  by  going  into  a  friendly  port  where  sup- 
plies could  be  obtained,  without  the  danger  of  blockad*^.;  and 
the"  most  suitable  place  for  that  purpose  seemed  to  be  the  port 
of  Conception,  on  the  toast  of  Chili.  The  season,  it  being  now 
the  end  of  January,  was,  to  be  sure,  far  advanced  for  doubling 
Gape  Horn;  the  stock  of  provisions  also  was  short,   and  the 
ship  in  other  respects  not  well  supplied  with  stores  tor  so 
long  a  cruiee.     But  there  appeared  to  Porter  no  other  choice 
left;  except  capture,  starvation,  or  blockade.     This   course 
seemed  to  him  the  more  justifiable,  also,  as  it  accorded  with 
the  views  of  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  as  well  as  those  ot  the 
commodore.      Before  the  declaration  of  war.   Porter  had  laid 
before  the  secretary  a  plan  of  annoying  the  enemy's  commerce 
in  the  Pacific,  which  had  been  approved  of;  and  prior  to  this 
cruize,  commodore  Bainbridge  having  requested  his  opmion 
as  to  the  best  mode  of  annoying  the  enemy.  Porter  had  laid 
the  ^ame  plan  before  him.    This  had  also  been  approved  ot 
by  the  commodore,  who  signified  his  intention  to  pursue  it^ 
provided  supplies  of  pro  visions,  could  be  procured.     Although 
there  was  considerable  responsibility  attached  to  this  proce-,d- 
inff,  and  the  undertaking  was  greater  than  had  yet  been  en- 
(raged  in  by  any  single  ship  in  similar  pursuits,  yet  the  season 
admitting  of  no  delay,  Porter,  immediately  on  getting  to  sea, 
stood  to  the  southward;  and  the  crew  were  put  on  short  allow- 
ance of  provisions,  in  order  to  husband  them  for  the  long  voy- 
affc  on  which  they  were  now  embarked. 

Cape  Horn  was  doubled  about  the   middle  of  Feoruary, 

amidst  tremendous  storms;  and  the  Essex  surmounted  all  the 

dangers  of  hurricanes,  fogs,  and  4)reakers,  by  the  intrepidity 

of  her  commander,  and  the  distinguished  coolness  and  activity 

of  her  crew,  to  which  the  uncommon  degree  of  liealth  they 

enioyed,  from  the  judicious  arrangements  of  captain  Porter, 

not  a  little  contributed.     In  the  latitu#  of  about  40    south, 

pleasant  moderate  weather  succeeded  to  the  incessant  storms 

^  and  severe  cold  experienced  in  the  passage  around  the  stormy 

cape,  and  on  the  6th  of  March  the  Essex  came  to  an  anchor 

ott  an  uninhabited  isiauu  caucu  i»iocir«,  m  luw  la.i.^-:--  -^  "i,"'..: 

S8°  15'  S.  about  eight  leagues  distant  froiH  the  coast  ol  i^hili. 

At  Mocha,  a  considerable  supply  of  fresh  provisions  was  pro- 


cured by 

that  islanc 

able  food, 

Porter 

of  Chili,  ( 

where,  co 

utmost  at 

which  hac 

the  gover 

selves  inc 

frigate  wi 

ed  in  thei 

of  bells. 

brought  I 

sistance  ij 

tion  he  tt 

views  of] 

The  E 

time  two 

his  speed 

municate 

was  Port( 

counts,  t 

islands,  1 

ers.     Po 

ru,  and  tl 

track  he 

and  amoc 

The  E 

during  w 

coast  of  I 

role.     E 

the  valua 

tured,  e: 

the  want 

ment  of ' 

in  favour 

value  of 

Uons  an( 

the  Ame 

and  prot 

return  to 

in  numb( 

Two  of  1 

seijt  to  \ 


HISTORY  OP  t^HE  VfKk, 


2S^ 


>K/Mlt 


cured  by  shooting  the  wild  hogs  and  horses  vchich  abound  in 
that  island.  The  flesh  of  the  latter  was  found  to  be  the  prefer- 
able food,  that  of  the  hogs  being  tough. 

,  Porter  again  steering  his  course  along  the  iron-bound  coast 
of  Chili,  on  the  1 5th  of  March  put  into  the  port  of  Valparaiso, 
where,  contrary  to  his  expectations,  he  was  received  with  the 
utmost  attention  and  hospitality.  This  arose  from  the  change 
•which  had  lately  taken  place  here,  the  Chilians  having  assumed 
the  government,  though,  without  absolutely  declaring  them- 
selves independent  of  old  Spain.  The  arrival  of  an  American 
frigate  was  considered  a  most  happy  event,  and  was  celebrat- 
ed in  their  capital,  St.  Jago,  by  illumination  and  the  ringing 
of  bells.  It  was  generally  believed  in  Chili,  that  Porter  had 
brought  proposals  for  a  friendly  alliance,  and  assurances  of  as- 
sistance in  their  struggle  for  independence;  and  this  construc- 
tion he  thought  it  politic  rather  to  encourage,  as  it  suited  his 
views  of  readily  obtaining  supplies. 

The  Essex  remained  a  week  at  Valparaiso.  During  that 
time  two  Spanish  vessels  had  sailed  for  Lima,  which  rendered 
his  speedy  departure  necessary,  as  they  would  certainly  com- 
municate the  intelligence  of  his  arrival  to  the  enemy,  and  as  it 
was  Porter's  intention  to  visit  that  coast  next,  for,  from  all  ^.t- 
counts,  the  coast  of  Peru,  and  from  there  to  the  Gailapagos 
islands,  was  the  favourite  fishing-ground  of  the  British  whaV- 
ers.  Porter  accordingly  run  down  the  coast  of  Chili  and  Pe- 
ru, and  thence  proceeded  to  the  Gailapagos  island.  In  this 
track  he  fell  in  with  the  Peruvian  coi*sair,  which  he  disarmed, 
and  among  the  Gailapagos  captured  three  British  whalers. 

The  Essex  remained  six  months  at  the  Gailapagos  islands, 
during  which,  however,  one  trip  was  fhade  toTumbez,  on  the 
coast  of  Peru,  where  a  number  of  prisoners  were  landed  on  pa- 
role. During  the  cruize  among  those  islands,  the  whole  of 
the  valuable  British-whale  vessels  in  the  Pacific  were  cap- 
tured, excepting  one  which  had  been  laid  up  at  Coquimbo  for 
the  want  of  guns,  she  having  been  disarmed  by  the  govern- 
ment of  Chili,  in  consequence  Oi  the  active  part  she  had  takeii 
in  favour  of  the  Peruvians,  who  adhered  to  Ferdinand.  The 
value  of  these  prizes  to  the  enemy  was  estimated  at  two  mil- 
lions and  a  half  of  dollars.  By  this  cruize,  too,  the  whole  of 
the  American  whale-ships  were  rescued  from  certain  capture, 
and  protected  in  those  seas  until  the  proper  season  for  their 
return  to  the  United  States.  The  captured  vessels  were  twelve 
in  number,  carrying,  in  the  whole,  107  guns,  and  302  men.—* 
Two  of  the  prizes «vere  given  up  to  the  prisoners,  three  were 
seijtto  Vafpftraiso,  where  they  were  laid  up,  and  three  were. 

X 


w 


>\ 


,.«  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 

sent  to  the  United  States.  Lieutenant  Downes  conveyed  tlk 
Drives  sent  to  Valparaiso,  in  another  prize,  which  had  been 
m  ed  UD  a s  a  cruizer,  under  the  name  of  the  Essex  Junior. 
Hlreioined  captain  'porter  at  the  Gallapagos  on  the  30th  ot 
SenteXr,  and  brought  letters  from  Valparaiso,  containing 
^fformXn  that  a  squadron  under  the  command  of  commo- 
o^Tamcs  HiUyar,  consisting  of  the  frigate  Phoebe,  of  36 
eunsthT  Raccoon  and  Cherub^loops  of  war,  and  a  store-ship 
!f  20  euns,  had  sailed  from  England  in  pursuit  of  the  Essex. 
That  tlieRaccoon  and  Cherub  htd  been  seekmg  her  for  some 
rime  on  the  coast  of  Brazil,  and  had  then  proceeded  in  quest  of 

"'tIVess^x  ivad  now  been  nearly  a  year  at  sea,  almost  wkh- 
.,„  intermTssion,  and,  as  may  be  supposed,  required  cons.der- 
Xerep"oPUth;rin  a  proper  state  to  meet  the  enemy. 
<-^,ltn  Porter,  therefore,  adetennined  to  steer  for  the  Wasji- 
?nnUhnds  for  that  purpose,  and,  on  the  2d  of  October,  the 
'S   n  company  with^hr  Es'sex  Junior,   Greenwich,  Serm- 
rfaA  New  Zealandervand  the  Sir  Andrew  Hammond,  final- 
P?  r;;.  filCasds,  or  the  Enchanted  Isles,  as  some  have 
"  led  them  frim  trdifficulty  of  clearing  them,  owing  to  the 
called  them,  "°^."  ,       /j.^        ■  i^^^^  are  described  by 

'"'SV'lr  a,  blir^  'of  volcanic  origin,  and  totally  de- 
"P,n?rmn  be  streams.     There  are  some  few  springs,  bu 
thfwlerrquicky  absorbed       the  loose  and  thirsty  lava  and 

136=  and    142    W- /  °"'.*j'3  ej,iied  Nooaheevah  by  the  na- 
^•''"''^r^hkrPort-  bel  .wed  the  name  of  Madison's  Island, 

l^^irur^^t^eri-^^^^^^^^^ 

covered,  f '"^^  Jl^P^^l-fi^:  "^^rse "1  ston  opined  with  the 
''^twis'tlUng  1  ear  tU  beach;  but  their  operations  on  shore 
""l!Mi*'!.n"H  lo  be  disturbed  by  the  natives  of  a  neighbour- 
:'"•'-  V,""  ■  ',.;i,„  were  at  war  with  those  among  wiioii.  rorwi 
ing  valley,  >vho  ^^J^^^,^   f  ^„^  „f  their»trong  holds,  how- 

^JerrS  apSt!.  or  sX,  who  accompanied  th«  frWndly  na^ 


lives,  the 

by  Portei 

with  hin 

receptior 

her  repai 

America 

plentiful 

fish-hoot 

But  th 

and  warl 

dy  stop  t 

They  co 

cowards 

edthe  ir 

Porter  s 

and  to  r 

friendly 

seek  his 

fruit?    I 

come  an 

of  his  w< 

in  a  use] 

necessit 

in  order 

made  no 

in  war  a 

fore  app 

mean  wl 

peaceab 

eifects  o 

bers,  an 

mountai 

listen  to 

confirm* 

country. 

landed  i 

was  fou] 

this  sm£ 

thickets 

grass  of 

5feet  hig 

The! 

zardous 

ans,  wh 

had  lane 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


239L 


lives,  the  hostile  Indians  gladly  accepted  of  the  peace  offered 
by  Porter,  on  the  condition  of  establishing  a  friendly  commerce 
with  him.  The  Indians  now  erected  a  little  village  for  the 
reception  of  the  articles  taken  out  of  the  Essex,  in  order  to 
her  repairs,  and  the  greatest  harmony  prevailed  between  the 
Americans  and  most  of  the  tribes  of  the  island,  who  brought 
plentiful -supplies  of  provisions  in  exchange  for  pieces  of  iron, 
fish-hooks,  and  whale's  teeth. 

But  the  conduct  of  the  Typees,  one  of  the  most  numerous 
and  warlike  tribes  in  the  island,  again  threatened  to  put  a  spee- 
dy stop  to  the  useful  intercourse  established  with  the  natives. 
They  continually  insulted  the  friendly    Indians,  calling  them 
cowards  for  submitting  to  the  white  men,  to  whom  they  appli- 
ed the  most  degrading  epithets.  In  reply  to  a  messenger  whom 
Porter  sent  to  their  valley,  to  induce  them  to  remain  at  peace, 
and  to  require  an  exchange  of  presents  as  a  proof  of  their 
friendly  disposition,  they  desired  to  know  why  they  should 
seek  his  friendship,  and  why  they  should  bring  him  hogs  and 
fruit?    If  he  was  strong  enough,  they  said,  they  knew  he  would 
come  and  take  them:  his  not  d<^ng  so  was  an  acknowledgment 
of  his  weakns'ob.     Porter  was  extremely  averse  from  engaging 
in  a  useless  warfare  with  these  people;  but  he  conceived  that 
necessity  compelled  him  to  take  some  steps  to  punish  them, 
in  order  to   secure  the  friendship  of  the  other  Indians,  who 
made  no  secret  of  their  belief  that  his  backwardness  to  engage 
in  war  arose  solely  from  cowardice.     A  distant  day  was  there- 
fore appointed  for  an  expedition  against  the  Typees,  and  in  the 
mean  while  Porter  practised  every  means  to  inspire  them  with 
peaceable  views,  by  making  them  acquainted  with  the  deadly 
effects  of  fire  arms.     But  they  felt  too  conscious  of  their  num- 
bers, and  of  the  natural  strength  of  their  valley,  surrounded  by 
mountains  impenetrable,  as  they   believed    to  white   men,  to 
listen  to  peaceable  overtures;  and  in  this  disposhion  they  were 
confirmed  by  the  event  of  the  first  attempt  made  to  enter  their 
country.     Thirty-five  men,  with  captain  Porter  at  their  head, 
landed  in  their  valley,  but  from  the   nature  of  the  country,  it 
was  found  impossible  to  make  any  impression  on  them  with 
this  small  force;   and  after  penetrating  through  marshes  and 
thickets,  through  which  they   had  to  fight  their  way,  the  pro- 
grass  of  the  party  was  finally  stopped   by  a  strong  wall,  sevea 
feet  high,  flanked  by  impenetrable  thickets. 

The  situation  of  the  party  was  at  this  moment  peculiarly  ha- 
zardous. The  surrounding  hills  were  covcrcu  vy  tiioss  iimi- 
ans,  who  at  present  professed  friendship.  Great  numbers  also 
had  landed  with  them,  but  ihey  had  taken  little  or  no  I>art 


!H 


240 


H15T0»Y    OF    THE   WAU. 


of  a  defeat,  it  was  rfiippoa- 


m  the  conteat,  and  the  appearance 

ed,  viOuXd  bring  on  an  f^f  ^  ^^^^^^^  JthTisland.     A  re. 

iore  defeated,  if  not  by  the  vholeloce  the  Indians  from 

treat  ^as  theiefore  ^^^Sf  ^^;  ^^^^^'^[^hed  upon  the  party  ^^'ith 
their  fort,  and  -^-^-^-^^^r^^  advaLed  were 

h  deous  yells.     1  he  nrsi  an  off  were  wound- 

killed,  and  those  .-^°  «'^Xndo„ed  Se^  <1-<1'  »nd  P-"?'" 
ed;  on  seeing  wlach,  ^h^^y  f  *""°"  ,  ,,^5  ^ow  suffered  to  re- 
tately  retreated  to  the     fort.     P^  "'^^^  ^„,  ^each  a  tnessen, 

treat  nearly  V^^t!  hid  W  oft"  pe^ce,  but  they  only^nswcr- 
eer  was  again  dispatcnco  lo  "»»      y 

Id  by  a  challenge  to  ''.^"7, ''1^':°;;;^  '^,  the  InJUns  had  all  de- 
pirter  now  deiernuned  ^ojr^^^r^'^l  ^hite  men  by  the  Ty- 
scended  the  h,lls,  and  the  deleat  °y"  ^o„.    The  pun- 

pees  formed  the  ""'ve'^'al '°f  .^  ."'  Xmed,  ^„ever,mwe 
Lmentofthe  h°f  ^  ",^";^'body  was  ""«  day  marched  ta 
important  than  ever,  a  'ai^g®  ?°"'  .  notwithstanding  the  ex- 
their  valley  across  th\"°""'f;"!' ^"trawd  into  their\ountTy, 

treme  difficulties  of  the  •■""'^'PS"^  'alley.  We  regret  to 
and-completely  drove  them  ot^^  of  the  va^J^^^  ,^^ 

say,  that  the  «h°>«  f '"l^e  "s  Lual  in  Indian  warfare,  we 
waste,  as,  lho"gh  the  pracUce  1  existed  lh«  can  be 

cannot  perceive  that  the  same  >       ^^^^^  inottr«»n 

urged  for  this  measure  in  contests  wiv 
territory.  „io^  m  accent  of  the  sametenosiof 

'''''  '"j^rtheT'h^drefot  sco^et' nd  every  tribe,  on  the 
S  -r^^tdsMp  of  the^^^^^^^      ^,,,,,  .,  ^. 

Previous  to  the  1  ypee  war,  a  «»"  ha  1  ^^  ^^^ 

valley,  where  Porter  fff^'^^^^tY^^^        was  hoisted,  and  Uie 
tarns,  and  the  flag  of  the  Unitea  am  ^^^^^ 

island  fot^ally  J*!'-"  Pf^^f^fadison's  Uland,  unde..  a  sa- 
can  government,  by  the  tirteotM     ceremony  being  explained 

lute  of  1 7  guns.     The  °"^i"\°;^''„ueh  pleasures  at  the  idea  ot 
10  the  inhabitants,  they  expiessed  n>»<^    I'      Americans. 

being  adopted  Mellickees, »«  ^^l^.Xrepaired,  and  provision^ 
The  Essex  being.now  completely  ^ep,      ^^^^^^   ^^th 

for  four  months  laid  m,  she  .=,ff.V°^,,ex  Junior.  The  three 
ef  December,  in  ^omf  "V  »f ''f^.^^f ^^  the  fort,  and  left  in 
prizes  were  secured  undei  '^^  f^*^i„,  ^nd  21  men,  with 
!-l>,r^e  of  lieutenant  Gamble  ot  the  iviar  ^^_^^.^  ^^^.^^ 


expressly 

equipment 

motto  "  G 

offend  bot 

«  Free  tra 

gested,  d< 

American 

In  reply  t 

country,  i 

harbour,  t 

to  lay  her 

neutrality 

her  expo 

knowledt 

honour  t< 

They  cor 

the  mutu 

charactei 

generous 

mingled 

from  on€ 

On  ge 

went  off 

blockadi 

81  guns 

the  crev 

of  the  E 

six  long 

in  clos( 

the  mar 

Juriibr 

pound 

only  60 
This 
vented 
unless 
Porter 
lengci 
him  in 
tried  f 
this  c 
ships  s 
Findir 
fearini 
was  c 


HISTORY  OF  TUB  WAR. 


241 


equipment,  witn  picKea  cicwn,         ..      ,  ,      .  Htrhts:  traitora 

Xmerican  crews  were  duefly  "mposec  oM^  S       „     ^  „„, 

^"  "P'^  rd' Ub"m- 'ml      S  th^:-    0«  Entering  the 
country,  and  libeity.  tyian«  j^  ^  manner  as 

harbour,  the  Phoebe  fell  f»"' f  .'•!'^p^""!'out  of  respect  to  the 
to  lay  her  at  the  ^ercy  of  captain  Porter  out  o     ^^  ^^ 

neutrality  of  the  port,  howeve  ,  he  d  d  ^^^  ^f,,,,„„ds  ac- 
her  exposed  situation.  J^'^ '°™^"^d  he  passed  his  word  of 
knowledged  by  ''''","?°;'°:„^„?ji'/,^\;urihcV  remained  in  port, 
honour  to  observe  like  <=°"''"";\'"  harbour  and  on  shore,  in 

They  continued,  *«'•«  °'-«'  ^''^^ 'J^d^'v^roffices,  that  should 
the  mutual  ^^hange  of  cou    e.ies  and  kinci   tn     ^^  ^^^ 

characterize  the  P"^^^  "^  fJ^^^J^the  espective  ships  often 
Sd\:g"  rd'paVsXutica.  joicL  and  pleasantries 

from  one  to  the  Other.  .       j  the  Phoebe  and  Cherub 

On  getting  then-provisions  0^^^^^^^^^  ,^ 

xventoff  the  PO^J\^hp^^"^,^fy  Their  united  force  amounted  to 
blockading  captam  P°l^^^V,.r^\'o  which  they  took  on  board 
ai  o-uns  and  500  men,  m  addition  to  wnion  '-^'^J'  thp  force 
81  guns  anu  ^  '  letter  of  marque  lying  in  port.   1  he  torce 

the  crew  of  an  l^ng^sn  leuc  u  i      ^  excepting 

of  the  Essex  consisted  of  but  46  gm^^^^^^^^^       only 'serviceable 
six  long  twelves,  ^^^re  f  pounrt  oi  >^^^{^  ^^^^^^^  ^^, 

JS  c'-roUel^  rdtrlh^n  s^:i«^'h  a  complement  of 

only  60  men.  ,     ^^.^  ^f  jj,e  enemy  pre- 

This  vast  supefiority  "f  f»;"  °" '^^  J^,;  ,ike  equal  terms, 
vented  all  chance  of  '"-^^^t'eenSe  commanders.  Captain 
unless  by  express  '=»«"''"' "^"'r^peatedly  to  provoke  a  chal. 
Porter,  therefore,  .f  ^eavou^^,^  f  C^'hl  Pl-oebe  not  justifying 
lenge  (the  in'«™"\°f  ^'V/himtelf-),  but  without  effect.  He 
him^  in  making  the  challenge  h^^^^^^be  into  sh.gle  action;  but 
tried  frequently  also  to  bung  tne  rn^  f         ^.       ^is 

this  commodore  HiUyar .^l^.^'^.^-^'^-tVmPorter's attempts, 
ships  so  close  WS«>her  as  to  ft  ustrate  capta  ^^^ 

Finding  ititnpopible  to  br  ngthe  m        q  ^^  .^derstood. 
^r  o^n  Z  :;rPortefdrr"4ed  to'p.^  «  -^  *«  «-  o-?^ 

X  2 


M^2  HlSTOny  OF  THE  WAR. 

nnrtunitv  that  p^ould  present.    A  rendezvous  was  accordingl>' 
portunity  tnat  _  f  ^^^.      ascertained  by  re- 

opened  f^^.^^^^^^^^'^^^'^^^  was  a  superior  sailer  to  either  of 
energy  chase  her  off/thereby  giving  the  Essex  Junior  aivop- 

P'on"'4VLxT&^e  28th  of  March,  1814,  the  wind  came 

♦n  Wmv  f?esh  from  the  southward,  and  the  Essex  parted 

Tertt"  dSe  7n"  dragged  her  starboard  ancho^^^^^^^ 

out  o  sea.    Not  a  moment  was  lost  m  getting  sail  on  the  sh^, 

hut  nerce  ving  that  the  enemy  was  close  in  with  the  pomt.form- 

^     FkI  west  fide  of  the  bay,  and  that  ther-e  was  a  possibility 

ofCssing  to  w^^^^^^         ani'escaping  to  seaby  superiorsail- 

?n/caDtlin  Porter  resolved  to  hazard  the  attempt.     He  ac- 
ing,  captain  rori  ^^^  ^^^^^^  ^p  f^^  the 

cordingly  took  in  h^^ ^P  S^  \    ^^  ^^  Jading  the  point,  a  heavy 
?Zu  suucrthrstrand  carried  away  her  main  top.mast, 

^••..t^n^  the  men  who  were  aloft  into  the  sea,  who  were 
precipitating  the  men  wno  ^^^  ^^^  ^^.^^^^^ 

**rjriin  kft  PortTr  noTltlrnative  but  to  endeatour  to  regam 
of  his  ship  lett  Forter  "»  ^»^    .  ^  ^  ^^  ^^  the  common 

,ng  approach  of  the  f °f 'f^.^P* ^^^^  soon 

r*°  /hf™'  tSe  reardanVer  of  h  .   ItuaTon.     With  all  possi- 
5^f,wed  him  the.  real  ^^angci  ^  actionf  and 

''•h  ''r:SC"t  rspring  rhUc:bJrb«thadnotsu^eed. 
:f  Xe"  at  54'mi*u?es'plst  3  P.  M.  the  enemy  commenced 

^l?*h  the  Phoebe  placed  herself  under  his  stem,  and  the 

succeeded  three  difl^ent  tim  S        »  jj    j„  tear  on  the 

hies,  for  the  purpose  "^Xn  shot  away  by  the  excessive  fire 
enemy,  but  they  *"«"/%V«»owfged,  therefore,  to  rely 
Z  "."fenc:  rainrthls'  trfmend^uV aftack  merely  on  three 
rone-  twelve-pounders,  which  iie  naa  run  ""^-^*  --=;-;- r^:;i 
l^^vS  wL  wotHttl.  with^)ich  br^veiy  and  .kill,  as 


h^lt" 


an  hour  tc 

duce  then 

the  intent 

daring  coi 

cheap  a  ri 

and  wary; 

prepared 

the  mean 

voking  ir 

klHed  an( 

enemy,  t( 

escape  oi 

being  dis 

ing  ensig 

the  ship, 

to  the  las 

self  with 
sex,  out 
could  no 
structivc 
the  latte 
ting  und< 
gled  Stat 
jib;  this 
on  both 
For  a  si 
and  the 
the  Esse 
woUndei 
a  peliisc 
be  savec 
haul  off 
tion  aga 
The  dis 
to  take 
was  un! 
edging 
and  kej 
among 
dered  u 
were   i 
particu 
it  in  the 
with  0- 


•-^'yi4'^*tefc*M»- 


HISTORY  OF  THE  ^AR 


543 


an  hour  to  do  great  injury  to  both  the  enemy's  ships,  and  in- 
duce them  to  haul  off  and  repair  damages.     It  was  evidently 
the  intention  of  commodore  HiUyar  to  risk  nothing  from  the 
daring  courage  of  his  antagonist,  but  to  take  the  Essex  at  as 
cheap  a  rate  as  possible.     All  his  manoeuvres  were  deliberate 
and  wary;  he  saw  his  antagonist  completely  at  his  mercy,  and 
prepared  to  cut  him  up  in  the  safest  and  surest  manner,     in 
the  mean  time  the  situation  of  the  Essex  was  galhng  and  pro- 
voking in  the   extreme;   crippled  and  shattered,  with  many 
kitted  and  wounded,  she  lay  awaiting  the  convenience  ot  the 
enemy,  to  renew  the  scene  of  slaughter,  with  scarce  a  hope  ot 
escape  or  revenge.    Her  b.uve  crew,  however,  in  plaxe  ot 
being  aisheartened,  were  aroused  to  desperation,  and  by  hoist- 
ing ensigns  in  their  rigging,  and  jacks  in  different  parts  of 
the  ship,  evinced  their  defiance  and  determination  to.  hold  out 

to  the  last.  ,       ,  , . 

Tbfe  enemy  having  repaired  his  damages,  now  placed  nim- 
self  with  both  his  ships,  on  the  starboard  quarter  ot  the  tiS- 
sex,  out  of  reach  of  her  carronades,  and  where  her  stern-guns 
could  not  be  brought  to  bear.     Here  he  kept  up  a  most  de- 
structive fire,  which  it  was  not  in  Porter*s  power  to  return; 
the  latter,  therefore,  saw  no  hope  of  injuring  him  without  get- 
ting under  way  and  becoming  the  assailant.     From  the  man- 
gled state  of  his  rigging,  he  could  set  no  other  than  the  flymg 
lib;  this  he  caused  to  be  hoisted,  cut  his  cable,  and  run  down 
on  both  ships,  with  an  intention  of  laying  the  Phoebe  on  board. 
For  a  short  time  he  was  enabled  to  close  with  the   enemy, 
and  the  firing  on  both  sides  was  tremendous.    The  decks  ot 
the  Essex  were  strewed  with  dead,  and  her  cockpit  filled  with 
wounded;  she  had  been  several  times  on  fire,  and  was  intact 
a  pellet  wreck;  still  a  feeble  hope  sprung  up  that  she  might 
be  saved,  in  consequence  of  the  CheruB  being  compelled  to 
haul  off  by  her  crippled  state;  she  did  not  return  to  close  ac- 
tion again,  but  ke^t  up  a  distant  firing  with  her  lon^  guns. 
The  disabled  state  of  the  Essex,  however,  did  not  permit  hei 
to  take  advantage  of  this  circumstance;  for  want  of  sail  she 
was  unable  to  keep  at  close  quarters  with  the  Phoebe,  who, 
cdp-inK  off  chose  the  distance  which  best  suitcdher  long  guns, 
and  kept  up  a  tremendous  fire,  which  made  dreadful  havoc 
among  the  crew  of  the  Essex.     Many  of  her  guns  were  ren- 
dered  useless,  and  many  had  their  whole  crews  destroyed:  they 
were   manned  from  those  that  were  disabled,  and  one  gun  in 
particular  was  three  times  manned;  fifteen  men  were  slam  at 
it  in  the  course  of  the  action,  though  the  captain  ot  it  escapea 
with  oniy  a  slight  wound.     Captain  rorter  ii&w  g»vw  up  «" 


m 


,,^  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAil. 

Hopes  of  closing  .UK  ^^^^^^^;':^  ^^^  Z^^X^ 
able,  determined  to  run  lusshpon^^h^^^  ,    ^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^ 

destroy  her.    He  had  »PP™*f  ^?,"eceeding,  when,  in  an  in- 
shoi-e,  and  had  every  prospect  oUucc^         B.^  ^^^  ^^^^ 

,tant,  the  wind  «M««'' ^^^"'"J-^i^  i^^d  "eadful  raking  fire.  The 
the  Phoebe,  exposing  her  »§»'»  ^°  *  j  ^^  her  head  was  to- 
ship  was  now  totally  «"»^.^j:,td;cap  ain  Porter  again  per- 
wa^  the  enemy,  »"'Jf'?=  *X!,"*7i  this  moment  lieutenant 
ceived  a  faint  hope  of  b""  d'"S|„e  o  board  to  receive  orders, 
Downes  of  the  Essex  J"»'°' f  ^^^^i^  goon  be  a  prisoner.    His 

expecting  that  captain  P°".f.*°"' deplorable  s  ate  of  the  Es- 
services  could  be  of  no  avail  in  the  dei^^^^^^^^  ^.^  ^^^^^  ^p_  ^^^^ 

sex,  and  finding  f"-?;'  ^^^tv^^jd  C  succeed,  Downes  was 
the  last  attempt  at  boarding  wouiu  ^      ^  for  defend- 

dirVcted  to  returnto  hi.  own  ship.to  be^^  ^.^^  ^ 

ins  and  destroymg  her  in  case  oi  ai  ,^  ^^.^^  „„ 

r/veral  of  the  ^vounded,  leaving  three  ot    ^^^  ^^  ^  ^^, 

board  to  make  room  for  them.     in= 
fire  on  him  during  his  je'"™;     ^         ^^^  became  horrible. 
The  slaughter  on  ^"'^'^l^'^H  she  was  unable  to 
the  enemy  continuing  to  rake  hei,  w  ^^^^er,  with  an 

brine  a  gun  to  bear  m  return.  J>"  "^  persisted  in  the  une- 
obslLcy  that  bordered  <>''J^^'''^ZT^^V^'^^'^''^'^'.^^T 
mial  and  almost  hopeless  "=77,^,*; „^^j  Va,  resorted  to,  in  the 
?Ue  and  inventive  mind  could  »"ggf  J^^ied  by  some  lucky 
flrloi-n  hope  that  they  "J  f  *  ;"  °^f  Z  foe.    A  h-alser  was 

chance- to  escape,  from  "'«  S'J'P°','     cut  from  the  bows,  to 
benrto  the  sheet-anchor,  aiid  the  aochor  cut  tr  ^^^  ^^^ 

bring  the  ship's  head  round     Thssucce    ^^ .   ^^  ^^^ 
of  the  Essex   was  again  uo"g"'-),  ..'porter  tlWught 
was  much  crippled,  and  ""''hU  « '^oU  ^^^  -^j^'^^^ered  that  he 
she  might  drift  out  of  Bj-^o  befo  e  i^   p„ted, 

bad  anchored.    The   ha  ser,  now        ,         ,  ^^^  j,^^^^_    The 

and  with  it  failed  the  >»*   .>'"gl""|urinl  the  action,  but  at  this 
.ship  had  taken  fire  several  times  cU.  ing     ^^  ^__^  ^^^^  ^        .^ 

moment  her  situation  "^J*  ^y'"  „„  „p  each  hatchway,  a  large 
Zi  aft;  the  flames  were  hurs  "K  "P  «  ^^^    j^en  that 

Quantity  of  powder  ^'"^'^^'""Ji^^^rsurrounded  by  horrors, 
the  fire  was  near  the  magazine,     i  nu  ^^^^^  ^^^  ^^ 

^Uhout  any  chance  of  suving  ^he  sh  p,  ^°'        ;„„,  ,,      ssi- 
ttntion  to  rescuing  as  many  ol  h  »  t)r.w  v         ^^^^  ^j^^^e 

If,"     Finding  his  distance  Jrom  the  shore  di^"^  tosavethem- 
<,uartersofamle,hehopea  ma..,  — •--  had  been  cut  to 

^  Ctt'etVy-s^hurhe  ^^^  -h  ascould  swim^ 


ip  jump  ov< 

were  taken 

but  most  o 

fate  of  thei 

Those  \ 

guish  the 

guns,  and 

by  this  tiu 

was  in  vai 

officers  of 

tenant  St< 

some  had 

carried  be 

every  par 

presentin 

imminent 

ed>  that  t 

were  kil^ 

while  the 

ter  and  h 

i^te  and 

firing  at 

titteiiy  d 

pellcd,  i 

to  strik' 

pe.ixeivc 

several 

ship,  ai 

quarter. 

Bunk,  » 

the  sun 

.    The 

ver^ 

British 

Thoi 

of  the 

fought 

among 

had  v( 

sitnati 

flaggii 

crew, 

their  i 

battle 

their 


WHST<JRY    OF    THB  WAR. 


^45 


rible, 
►le  to 
Lth  an 
une- 
;  a  fer- 
in  the 
lucky 
;r  was 

)WS,tQ 

ladside 
enemy 
itught 
that  he 
parted, 
.    The 
I  at  this 
forward 
a  large 
ven  that 
horrors, 
I  his  at- 
is  possi- 
ed three 
vre  thetn- 
n  cut  to 
uld  swim 


,p  jump  ovevboard  and  make  f^  f^^' J°red  i'lhe  ^1^ 
«<.re  taken  by  the  enemy,  and  some  I«"*"rii ,  sharine  the 
but  n.ost  of  this  loyal  and  gallant  crew  preferred  shanng  tne 

fate  of  their  ship  and  thf  ^o™™*^^^;  endeavoured  to  extin- 
Those  who  remained  on  board  now  en  ^^  ^^^ 

guiah  the  flames,  and  h-vmg  '«cc«ded  ««^  ^^^^^^^^ 
luns,  and  kept  up  a  ftnng  for  a  few  mmut    ,  „d,t„ee 

gythis  time  become  »°  J'f/^'^^^ned  a  consulution  of  .the 
,vas  in  vain,  C^P'""  J^f^^VJ^S  to  find  only  acting  Ueu- 
offtcers  of  divisions,  but  wa»^"  P"  „„„;mne;  of  the  othen, 
tenant  Stephen  D.^;=^7^X«  ^Sd^vert'oard,  and  others 
some  had  been  killed,  others  M«  The  accounts  from 

carriedbelow  disabled  by  severe  ^^^  ^^  ^^ 

every  part  of  V^^'^.t'^r  haS  »d  crippled  conditioiH  m 
presenting  her  in  the  yno?'^"""!'  crowded  with  the  woand- 
fmminent  danger  of  ^«a^d^°^„^r„  „„  „o,e,  and  many 

ed,  that  even  t^* ''"^^^^IjJ"  Jleon's  hands.  In  the  mean 
were  killed  while  ""^er  the  ^surgeo  ^^^^^  ^^  ^^^  ^,. 

while  the  eneniy,  .n  cwence  oU^^^_^  ^^  ^^^^  ^ 

ter  and  his  se'^^'^.t  ^^^'^l^  ^Uh  coolness  and  certainty,  as  if 
x^te  and  constant  »«•  ^""8'"     j  ^,  ^,t.    At  length, 

iirinB  at  a  target,  and  totting  tne  "  captam  Porter  was  coro- 
W^Y  despairing  of  savmrthe  sjiip,  capam  ,  ^^^^^ 

pelted,  at  20  minutes  P?f  «  ^bable  that  the  e^my  did  not 
to  strike  the  colours.  I^  "  P^"^^  f^v  he  continued  firing; 
perceive  that  th^/hip  had  X«^„dld'in  ^^^^^,  p^^s  „f  .he 

ix:ihrthr:LVtsifterhi!-.  -  mUe,  .^^ 

the  surrender.  58  allied,  39  wounded  se- 

.     The  loss  OB  board  the  Essex  was  ^^^^  ^  ^^^  ^^^^ 

vereta,  27  ^Ughtiy,  and  3 'missing. 
BritiSi  vessels  was  i.^}^^f«^  of  Valparaiso  were  spectator 

Thousands  ol  the  ."'''^^'^"^'ilbouring  heights:  for  it  was 
of  the  batUe,  covering  the  neghbourg^^  J^^  ^^^^  ^ 

fought  so  near  the  '^ore,  that  som  ^^^^^  curioMty, 

among  Uie  citizens,  ^^o,  in  the  eager  ,^^  j^^,^, 

had  ventured  down  upon  the  beach,     l  ^^^^,^1,,  at  the  un- 
situation  of  the  Essex,  »""  hlvd  wn  ^„„„and6v  and 

flagging  spirit  and  persevering  bravery  o  „„nii„de  for 

crew,  a  generous  f  "fj.  "J„  ^™Tn,  by  any  vicissitude  of 
their  fate:  bursts  of  del^t  arose,  w       .r^^^^  ^„  ^p  .a 

battle,  or  prompt  expedient,  a  chan  ^^^  ^^  ^_.      ^5,^^^ 

their  favour;  and  the  eager  spectatoi ,  w  i 


245  HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 

c  J^  E  S.  ...  .M.«I  '."lil"  ■■"  ■■<•"•  'tis  .. 

twelve  P^u""  ***  .  j^         e  difficulty  that  the  Phoebe  and 

t  Sex  couWbeTeVafloat  until  iLy  anchored  the  next 

""  cSnVorVrTndlb  t^^^^^^^^       paroled,  and  permitted  to 
retu'rSrth^United  States  in  the  Zs!e.  J-io-^  l"™--^ 

himself  a  prisoner  o   war,  ana  a  ^^^^  ^^^^.^^  ^^^ 

escape.  '" '=°2"^,?';i°ht  uJder  the  lee  of  the  Saturn,  but 
ordered  to  remam  »"  "'S''l,"°";  t  off  in  his  boat,  though 
'I;t."*''^,'^Z!hor^and!  notwi?h  tanding  he  ,vas'pursued 
^.'X.'^tLrn  dfected  hrescape,  and  landid  safely  on  Long 
ttSssex  Junior  was,  however,  released,  and  arrived 

''¥*he'  fmtllVT  left' with  lieutenant  Gamble  in  charge  of 

thJnrirs  at  Madison's  island,  met  with  a  series  of  misfor- 

terwhch  eventuated  in  the  loss  of  »y\-JX  Esse"'  lot 

Hfrrdi^ire^ab^^^^re:^^^^^^ 

foTe"over  by  force  o?  arms  the  articles  they  had  stolen  from 

l=sr '  rt^nS  r J::rcrpp^w= 

ihe  firing  ofTmusket,  and  a  perfect  amity  was  kept  up  for  se- 
■       ^-^ir  I'lroma^thile  Gamble  was  P-.Pa™g^to„^e^;^^ 

li^„:!=°h:Sbr';s'^%Tdu^c^^^^^^^^ 

by'  a  mminy,  whl  1,  ende'd  in  the  escape  of  the  muunee^  in  one 
of  the  prizes.  Auer  suffering  a  severe  loss  '"  ^^f.  "L""f^  J'i" 
.L  „,.;»«-.  a  breeze  fortunately  sprung  up,  which  enabled  the 


party  to  lea^ 

not  more  th 

cable  to  rea 

therefore  st 

tured  by  th 

The  crui 

one  of  the  i 

try;  and  p' 

wisdom  vf\ 

execution. 

porter  bol( 

by  his  suci 

commerce 

tain  never 

her  appea] 

Pacific,  a 

without  ar 

and  furnis^ 

of  his  ent< 

pursuit  of 

off  New  i 

to  the  riv 

to  effect 

any  port  1 

was  faith 

,  ing  the  I 

gallant  d 

which  en 

ed  by  co 

and  mosi 

under  hi 

Mean 

make  e\ 

gates,  i 

for,  taug 

British 

those  of 

ed  to  pi 

tured; 

bv  the  " 

Levant 

navy  at 

each  of 

The 

teT\ded 


f 


HISTORY  OF  TrtE  WAft. 


247 


nvtv  to  leave  the  bay.  It  being  now  reduced  to  eight  soul», 
S™e  than  three  If  whom  wire  effective,  it  was  impractj. 

awTto  reach  Valparaiso,  which  lay  to  windward.  Gamble 
therefore  steered  for  the  Sandwich  islands,  where  he  was  cap- 

nJnf  the  most  memorable  events  in  the  history  of  our  coun- 

?       Ld  n^steriTv  wUl  hesitate  whether  most  to  admire  the 
try;  and  posterity  wun  c  carried  it  into 

.visdom  ^^^^\^^7^^^^^^^^^^^^      ill  a'plinted  for  such  a  cruize, 

S»%»^i-KSr€  LIS 

of  his  enterprise    Num^^^^^^^^^^ 

fhich  encircles  our  seamen,  and  as  wa^^^^^^^^ 

make  every  sea  the  theat.  e  oi  in  h  triumphs, 

gates,  it  is  true  were  added  to  ^^5  .'^^^^^^^^^^^  issued  by  the 

For,  taught  by  sad  ^^P^^^^^^^^^f  .^^v^^^^^  with 

British  admiralty  to   heir  f"f  ^^;^\^  ^hey  were  seldora  allow- 
those  of  the  Ur^ited  State^^^^^^^^^  ^^^,  ,,p. 

edto  put  to  sea  ^""«-    ^^^  p^^^^^^^      the  Reindeer  and  Avon 

eaci;  of  them  by  --o.M^::S.o::X  ^^.^^  „„„,,,„y  ex. 
J^d  ItltRU'u.an'^- tt^  MUsis'sippi.  .a. on  the  .Sth 


y 


HliTaRT  61  THte  WAR. 


2<ta 

Suhing  havoc  «ascon,n»tted  upon  the  tng  ^^^  j^^ 

not  only  in  the  high  «««'JS^,°°ety  mouths  of  her  harbours, 
in  her  channels,  a"^.**^"'"  r;.,'  '  ..ted  by  the  numerous 
Such  was.  the  uneasiness  '-"'l,^'»™  "^^vWle  Lsurance  could 
captures  by  »'^«  Americans,  th«  fo^^^^^^  ^^^^  ^^.^^  E„g. 

rd\VSnt  afel  ^ours^^l.^a  premium  of  five  guineas 

pantile  citU  ',  and  from  the  «l^»J»^<=^°i^  ,.    i„  ansv^er  to 

lodged  the  remedy  to  be  beyond  tne'P  ^jg^;,,,,    g^«,d 

Lmerous  remonstrances  on  this  subject,  i       ^^^^^ 

by  Mr.  Croker,  '^at^"  *^P^„°.tations,    and  that  during  the 
of  the  admirals  on  the  different  statwns,  ^ 

^™e  when  the  Am^^'^^^.f^ntt  not  fewer  then  three  fr  - 

"Thn-iievments  of  the  ^^^^^:Sr^^l'^r:p 

instances  rimlled  ^h^^e  "*  "^"^  P^^ve^'d  us  from  paying  them 
that  our  limits  have  h'*f  to  pre  j^p^per,  howey«r, 

the  attention  they  ^f  e"e-     It  worn  {l^j  Armstrong,  by 

to  pass  over  the  gaUantdefeiKeoUh^^  portof  Fayal.  Thisac- 
^^n  Reid  »d  his  ^"^f*^  "^^;'"i„stances  in  which  the  Bri- 

-ss^^rrhpi^t^htth^^^^^ 

r  h:s«ef  er^n-t  JuTi:  expense  If  blood  to  the 

violators.    *'        ^    r  co^tPtrxher  abtwt  dusk,  while  the  Gener- 
On  the  the  26th  of  Septe^nber,  ab  ,   ^^^^  British  brig 

al  Armstrong  lay  -\^^f^.^i,T^^r;^^^^  and  no  sooner  did  she 
Carnation  bove  ^^tZ  of  ih  privateer,  then  she  hauled 
understand  the  ^^T^^^^J^^A^i  shot  of  her.  At  the 
dose  In  and  let  g^  *f '  !;^t  74  ^^^  the  frigate  Rota  hove  in 
same  time  the  Pl^^^^S^Ue  of  ^  r  ils  between  them  and  the 
sLht,and  after  an  interchange  of  siv.tais  appeared  to 

^:;:;Uon,  the  latui^tlu^  nS^its  ^l 

be  making  unusual  exeiuon.     1       ^    „,ovements,  which  de- 
enabled  captam  Reid  to  observe  t«^  Accordingly  after 

termined  him  to  ^^^^J^"  »^*J„1^^  and  began  to  sweep  in. 

clearing  for  action,  ^e  £Ot  «nd  ;  way^^  Carnarion,  she  cut  her 
The  moment  tiiiswajir-----^'-    - 


cable,  mad 

manned  anc 

were  repea 

swer,  and 

therefore  c 

ed;  but  the 

then  fled  t 

formidable 

chored  wit 

pistol  shot 

At  9  o*c 

boats  fron 

took  their 

of  rocks,  V 

where  the; 

tion  keepl 

vateer  she 

the  boats 

line,  in  clc 

afterwards 

which  las 

defeat  an( 

slaughter 

During 

who,  fron 

of  the  sc€ 

tlie  place 

cond  atta< 

of  the  Pis 

ging  him 

ed,  that 

risk  of  k 

nor  sufTe 

ner,  he  s 

according 

tain  Rei<3 

carried  o 

fast  as  p< 

About 

strong,  i 

sides,  si 

rigging 

after  cai 

vateer,  ' 

abandon 


HISTORY  OF  THB  WAR. 


249 


ui.    «,«,1e  sail    and  dispatched  four  boats  in  pursuit,  welt 
»"ned  a^darmi'd     OuTpp^  the  Armstrong,  theboaU 

weriipeatedly  hailed  by'  captain  Reid,  but  they  """-  "o^"' 
swer  and  only  pulled  with  the  greater  speed.  A  fiie  wa, 
therefore  opened^pon  them,  which  «as  immedmtely  return- 

HnXrthr^Sptinc:^^ 

P'tt  Q^oVl^ck'the'clation  was  observed  .ojving  in  a  Qeet  of 
boa^s  from  the  74  and  frigate.     They  soon  after  left  her,  and 
took  their  station  in  three  divisions,  under  cover  o  a  sn.al  reef 
*of  toot  wUhin  about  musket  shot  of  the  General  A[;-^;o"g; 
whP.re  thev  continued  to  manoeuvre  for  some  time,  the  Carna- 
Uon  keeping  under  way  to  act  with  the  boats,  in  case  the  pn- 
vatee^TsCuld  attempt  I  escape. .  At  lengO.,  aWt  mulmg^-t 
the  boats  were  observed  in  motion,  commg  on  m  one  direct 
ne  Tclore  order,  to  the  number  of  12  or  14,  manned,  as  was 
ift^^ards  learnt,  by  400  men.     A  severe  conflict  ensued, 
wS  [^ted  near  forty-minutes,  and  terminated  in  the  total 
defeat  and  partlaT  destruction  of  the  boats,  with  an  immense 
slauehter  on  the  part  of  the  Brmsh.  ....,,  •,„„,. 

During  these  attacks  the  shores  were  lined  with  nmabitants, 
who    from  the  brightness  of  the  moon,  had  a  favourable  view 
:'the  sc™ne.     The^ovemor,  with  most  of  the  B-t  Peop  e  o 
Uie  place,  stood  by,  and  saw  the  whole  a.Tair.     Alter  the  se- 
cond attack  a  note  was  sem  from  the  governor  to  captam  Lloyd, 
rthe  PUmtagenet,  who  commanded  the  British  squadron,  beg- 
gng  him  to  desist  from  further  hostilities,  but  Lloyd  answer- 
Id    that  he  was  now  determined  to  have  the  privateer,  at  the 
risk  of  knoctog  down  the  whole  town;  and  that  if  the  gover- 
nor suffered  ihe^Americans  to  injure  the  privateer  m  =my  man- 
ner, he  should  consider  the  place  an  enemy's  port,  and  treat  it 
accordingly.     Information  to  this  effect  bemg  conveyed  to  cap- 
?S°Reid  by  the  American  consul,  the  wounded  and  dead  were 
carried  on  shore,  and  the  crew  ordered  to  save  their  efiecls  as 

^'luut°da?lught  the  Carnation  stood  close  in  to  the  Arm- 
strongrand  commenced  a  heavy  fire;  but  after  several  broad- 
s  res,^she  hauled  off,  having  received  a  shot  in  her  hull,  he 
r Lging  much  cut,  andjicr  fore-top-mast  wounded.  S  e  soon 
afwr  came  in  agdn,  however,  ar  anchored  close  to  the  pri- 
vaTeer,  when  captain  Reid  ordc.d  his  crew  to  scuttle  and 
abandon  the  vessel,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  getting  her  off. 


■351 


HISTORY  OF  THE  WAR. 


»„d  seven  wounded;  the  """^^  ''^"^ere  destroyed  by  the  ene- 
ed  Several  houses  m  the  «'^'"i7^„„  wounded.  Two  Br  t- 
„y>s  shot,  and  scree  <>'  '^^^^f^^^f  "tier,  ™hich  were  immedi- 
Uh  stoops  of  war  arrive    » '^_"  "^    j^e  wounded  to  England. 

rn^enrtne'goc^tion^--°rnT^^^^^^^^ 
niissioners  bringing  forwara^^  ^„^  ^„„q„eredpeo^^^^^^^ 

»ii  withdrawn,  and  a  ireaiy  "h  nations  on  tne  sainc 

?^,\ra    rishts  and  territories  of  «Ya^°-ned  at  Ghe.it  on  the 

f  fl^lv  of  February,  1815.   ^      ,  ,.„feetory  to  the  American  peo- 
Th^s  treaty  was  generally  ^^f^^^^^^^^^^^     of  impressment  and 
nl/for  though  it  left  t^^S^^.f  X  bel'^^ved,  that  the  respect 
^u'  IT  blockades  unsettled,  it  7^^^  ^^''^..^^lov.'^^^^ 

,    Uiat  it  consummated  tne  n  . — 


,^ii.    »*- — ^^ '  ,         L.i^PYable  defiression  on 


On  an  addi 

tulating  th 

amendmei 

in  a  striki 

tion.    Th 

substitute 

41  Xo  as 

great  sati 

between  1 

but  wc  si 

of  our  di 

to  exprei 

sure  so  r 

ty's  dom 

ing  the  t 

graciou; 

Ak'hat  w< 

that,  in 

the  int< 

peace  c 

Paris,  c 

most  ei 

gociatu 

Ameri< 

in  Eur( 

causes 

tween^ 

comm: 

amonc 

festati 

ot^pea 

jesty'i 

peopl 

rosity 

sire  t 

ty  wh 

the  r 

vants 

mane 

are  t 

unne 

upoi 

pepi 

wasi 

here 


fltSTOBV  OF  THE  VrAftv 


251 


•ession  on 

t  nothing 

ave  occa- 

called  by 


on  an  address  being  -'''::^^^\^:^:^L^T:iv^T^n 

lulaling  the  prince  ^<=8/"  °"  ^though  U  wasnot  carried,  shows 
amendment  was  moved,  «h;^h,  thougn  ^^  ^^^^ 

iU  ^t^:iS^^tVr=-th\t\h^^^^^^^^        ^^-o-^O  "« 

great  satisfaction  the  -"^f  °^f  ^"."f a  g^^  of  ?Ior.h  America; 
between  his  majesty  and  the  U' "Wd  Stat  discharge 

but  wc  should  deemov.vse Ives  htgWy  ^"^   ^     ,,„e  we  not 

of  our  <>"^y  t^art  Ij- n-J^^^^^^^  re^gret,  that  a  mea- 

to  express  to  his  royaimgnn  ^f,,      „aje8- 

sure  so  necessary  to  the  *f"f/ *""  ^puthed:  that  in  review- 
ty's  doroinions,  was  not  f"""  .f.'f^'^P" »  highness  has  been 
■L  the  terms  of  tl«  t^'*)' ">'^''. '"' ITe  at  a  loss  to  discover 
g.?aciously  pleased  « ':'e,f  ^^"^LgVetarld  its  conclusion;  . 
S-hat  were  the  causes  which   so  long  ,^  „„„„,  ^d 

that,  in  our  opunon,  *!'« ''°"°"'^°'    i,.ed  that  as  soon  as  the 
the  interest  of  his  people,  b°th  requi^  ,;     ed  at 

peace  of  Europe  had  been  <=*f'jfXst  year,  the  speediest  and 
?aris,  on  the  8th  day  of  May,  \Vh ,ve  heln  a*.pted  for  the  ne- 
most  effectual  measures  should  have  be^na^P  ^^^^^^^^ 

gociationofatreaty  °f  Pf^.f  J"'^„Se  ce"  »»**->"  of  hostilities 
America;  that  the  comp  ete  a>'f  «^"'*/the  operauon  of  the 

in  Europe  had  removed  or  s"*?*""^'^  '"i^a  the  late  war  be- 
J^tSvhich  had  occasioned  or  accompan^^^^ 

t^een  his  «>ajesty  and  Oie  United  States  that  ^^^  ^^^^  ^^,^ 
commanding  station  ,7'"™  *^*  ""/d  have  rendered  the  mani- 
amongst  the  nations  °f  *«  *°  i™fto^^^^^^      of  the  blessings 

Testation  of  a  sincere  ^"'f.''^" '''^i^iv  ho"""''*'''"  '°  "'*  ""% 
of  peace  with  the  U'"^^,^^?' *  .  '|„'Ld  the  government  and 
Py's  counsels;  and  woiUd  have  affm-d^^^^^  ^^^^^ 

'people  of  America  the  ^1  British  nation;  of  a  sincere  de- 
rosity  and  magnanimity  of  the  Biitisnn  ^^^^^^  ^ 

sire  to  bury  in  laffng  oblivion  the  re^j'^f  ^„^io„,  ^ish  for 
ty  which  then  unhappily  ^^f/'^'*^' ''[erm,  honourable  and  ad- 
the  re-establishment  of  peace  "PO"  «""  i^^ure  Us  own  per- 
vantageoustoboth  """^"f  ■ 'f/j^;'^^^       conditions;  that  we 

manency  by  the  J"f^^^.^"'',X  the  long  »"<'  ("  ""  ^"^VX 
are  the  more  deeply  atilictea  oy  uic       &  ^^en  we  reflect 

unn     esT^ry  delaf  in.  the  concu-on  °f  ?-«,  w     ^^^^ 
upon  the  great  and  ".comi^-b  e    "J^  J^      ^„d   uni.rofitable 
peoiile  have  sustained,  by   the   um  r  ^j^^j^gu^^hcd  ano 


i52 


HISTOKY  OF  THE  WAR. 


lire  of  the  latest  ™"''''7  .«"^*^Xd  \hat  pea«Ts  at  length 
afford,  us,  however,  conso  at  on  to  find,  that  p^^^^^    ^^^^^  .^  .^  g^^ 

re-estabhshed;  and  to  a»  .  r^      ^^^yal  ^^^.^^^^^„^  ^,,^^ 
r;r"  ardTnt^n-e  union  with  the  govern„.ent  and 

'-^^Hib'i:^^'^  thfgo^eZ^ 
trust,  that  ';  '•°""P°^^7|t»tes,  will  enable  his  royal  highness 

-l'„«rd°;n\?:sno'';::;n«^^^ 

mutual  ?o»fid«nce  and  lastmg  pe«e.  „,efulles- 

son,,wuch  It  .s  tobe^opedou         ^^^^  ^  ^^^  ^^^.^^^ 

pass  without  P^'i'l^yyf!^^^^^  is  essential  to  its  success- 

jrorduot  Lttr'a  d^ende  ,ce  in  loans  for  the  extra  ex- 
penses of  war  is  fatal  f^  ruinous.  cheapest, 
We  have  I"™' '^^f  . XL  aglinsUe  invasion  of  a  coast 

but  the  only  ^^'f  7' A^Jf  unitf  d  States;  that  a  navy  is  pe- 
M,  extensive  as  that  of  the   *^""«°J'"'    '       ^nd,  that,  as  it 

S.culiarly  ^'^ff^^^^^ll^t^XlS^^'titutiJns,  i?s  size 
^•'  '''';Vtrere?eL%1haT  X  s^fi  more  clearly  deter- 

:Sthf pre-r^f^ii  .--x^rredX  :?;!«" 

;tt:iTurr;r^-ny  ;:i.r  A  su^ered  ^o  pas. 
iminiprovcd.*  ^ 


.  i^lux^i 


'•WTPr^'W' 


I 


